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Men can experience domestic and sexual abuse, regardless of age, background, or sexual orientation.
This can include physical, emotional, sexual, financial, and online abuse. While abuse can affect anyone, men may be less likely to recognise what is happening or seek support due to stigma, shame, or fear of not being believed.
Abuse against men is often underreported, and many men face additional barriers when reaching out for help.
Abuse against men can include:
Men may face additional barriers when seeking support, including:
Feeling pressure to “be strong” or handle things alone
Shame or embarrassment about what has happened
Fear of not being believed, taken seriously, or being seen as the perpetrator
Difficulty recognising certain behaviours as abuse
Concern about how others (including professionals, family or friends) may respond
Lack of awareness of support services for men
Limited availability of male-specific services, including refuge spaces
Worries about false allegations or not being seen as a credible victim
Concerns about losing contact with, or custody of, their children
Source:
Taylor, J. C., Bates, E. A., Colosi, A., & Creer, A. J. (2022). Barriers to Men’s Help Seeking for Intimate Partner Violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 37(19-20)
These misconceptions can silence victims, minimise their experiences, or prevent them from seeking help.
Understanding the reality of abuse helps create safer communities where people feel supported and believed.
Fact
Men can and do experience domestic and sexual abuse, regardless of their size, strength, age, or sexual orientation. Shame, stigma, and fear of not being believed can make it harder for men to reach out for help. Barriers to speaking up can also be shaped by the age they were when the abuse occurred, their relationship to the perpetrator, how someone understands an unwanted sexual experience, how others respond to disclosure, and wider societal attitudes around masculinity, gender and abuse.
Source:
University of Brighton: Brighton research reveals hidden sexual abuse of men and barriers to seeking support, 2023.
Fact
Anyone can be a victim. Men can and do suffer from sexual assault and/or rape, regardless of their size, strength, age, or sexual orientation.
Source:
Fact
Research shows 71.4% of male survivors have considered suicide, highlighting the serious mental health impact abuse can have.
Source:
Catch 22: ‘Myths about male sexual assault victims’, 2019.
Fact
Men can experience domestic abuse too. In fact, 35% of domestic abuse victims recorded by PSNI are male.
Source:
Mens Alliance NI: ‘58% of deaths relating to domestic abuse in Northern Ireland are men (and other realities)’.
have been raped or sexually assaulted as an adult.
1
of domestic abuse crime victims were male in 2024/25 in Northern Ireland.
2
are particularly at risk of Financially Motivated Sexual Extortion (Sextortion) in the UK.
3
Sources:
ONS: Sexual offences prevalence and victim characteristics, England and Wales, March 2025 (1)
NISRA: Almost one in five crimes involved domestic abuse, November 2025 (2)
National Crime Agency: Financially Motivated Sexual Extortion (Sextortion) (3)
Support is available, and you do not have to face this alone. You can contact the Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline for confidential support, information and guidance.
You may also find it helpful to explore specialist support services for Men:
01823 334244 (support line)
ManKind Initiative is a national charity providing support to male victims of domestic abuse.
0808 801 0327
Men’s Advice Line is a confidential helpline for any man experiencing domestic violence and abuse from a partner.
Belfast: (028) 9024 1929 / Foyle: (028) 7116 0001
info@mapni.co.uk
Men’s Advisory Project NI provide counselling services for men experiencing domestic abuse.
Men’s Alliance NI is a peer support group dedicated to supporting and believing in male victims and survivors of Domestic Abuse.
028 71 377 777
admin@man-ni.org
MAN currently offer one to one Support Counselling and programmes within a welcoming, safe, confidential, non-judgemental space that aids self-healing and growth, and addresses male experiences in a range of areas from domestic and sexual abuse to depression, addiction, and sexual identity.
028 9043 8316
info@nexusni.org
Provides counselling and support for survivors of sexual abuse and sexual violence in Northern Ireland.
0800 0246 991
Rape Crisis Northern Ireland is a non-governmental organisation and support service for anyone who is 16 and over and has experienced serious sexual assault and rape in adulthood.
028 9040 1280
therowan@northerntrust.hscni.net
Regional Sexual Assault Referral Centre offering medical and forensic support to survivors.