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About this report
This report shares lived experiences of domestic abuse and insights into how people navigated support services across Kent and Medway. It highlights the challenges survivors faced, the support that helped, and opportunities to improve services for those affected by domestic abuse.
For more detailed findings, sociodemographic insights and lived experience examples, please read the full report.
Content warning
This report covers themes that readers may find distressing. These include domestic abuse, sexual abuse, mental health issues including mental health crises and being sectioned, suicide, eating disorders, homelessness, housing insecurity, honour-based violence and forced marriage. Links to available support are provided at the bottom of this web page, and within the report.
Whilst sexual abuse, suicide and forced marriage are mentioned, no specific details are given. In some cases, limited further details are given of domestic abuse experiences, mental health issues, mental health crises, being sectioned, eating disorders and honour-based violence. People's experiences of homelessness and housing insecurity are described in more detail.
Introduction
Context
In July 2026, the Domestic Abuse Commissioner published their strategic plan for 2026-2029, highlighting desired improvements in specialist services, health, policing and probation.
Locally, Kent County Council produced a domestic abuse needs assessment for 2023 and will publish an updated needs assessment later this year. Partnership work across Kent is also underway to improve mental health support for survivors of domestic abuse and reduce the number of related suicides.
What we know already
In April 2026, Healthwatch England summarised domestic abuse survivors' experiences of NHS care. Three key themes were identified:
Missed opportunities to identify abuse
Systems that put survivors at risk
Care that was not sensitive to trauma
Previous work by Healthwatch Kent and Healthwatch Medway also explored the links between domestic abuse, homelessness and mental health.
Methodology
Procedure
This report is based on insights gained from EK360 public engagement, encompassing Mental Health Voice, Healthwatch Kent, Healthwatch Medway, place-based engagement, hospital engagement and general engagement.
Sample selection
Between January 2023 and June 2026, insights from 72 people were identified as relevant to lived experience of domestic abuse or sexual abuse.
Summary of findings
46 people gave insights about domestic abuse. The key topics people mentioned were:
Physical, mental and lifestyle recovery (65%)
Social, financial, legal and housing support (52%)
Domestic abuse response and support (30%)
Across these topics, 37% mentioned emergency situations, including homelessness, temporary accommodation, refuges, fleeing, mental health crisis support, police response and immediate social support needs.
Physical, mental and lifestyle recovery
30 people (65%)
Therapeutic support was mentioned most frequently, followed by GP support, wider determinants affecting wellbeing, and community mental health support.
Therapeutic support
Many survivors described counselling and recovery services as beneficial, helping them rebuild confidence, self-esteem and mental wellbeing.
Mental health crisis support
People described difficulties accessing appropriate crisis support, especially during periods of homelessness, severe mental illness and heightened risk.
GP support
Experiences were mixed. Some people praised referrals to effective support, while others described poor communication or stigma.
Other wider determinants insights
Respondents highlighted the importance of community groups, healthy lifestyles, relationships, housing and employment in supporting recovery.
Community mental health support
Some survivors felt community mental health services lacked consistency or did not meet their individual needs.
Housing, social, financial and legal support
24 people (52%)
Emergency housing, police and immediate needs
Housing insecurity, refuges, homelessness and fleeing abusive situations were among the most common themes.
Housing
People shared experiences linked to safeguarding concerns, poor housing conditions, financial abuse and eviction risks.
Benefits and finances
Several survivors experienced difficulties with benefits systems and financial support.
Legal support
Legal challenges included divorce proceedings, immigration issues and understanding legal rights after leaving abusive relationships.
Social care
Experiences highlighted the importance of coordination between children's social care, adult social care and housing services.
Domestic abuse response and support
14 people (30%)
Support from domestic abuse charities
Many people reported excellent and consistent support from specialist domestic abuse organisations.
Support from GPs
Survivors highlighted opportunities to improve understanding of abusive relationships within primary care settings.
Coordination between services
Advocacy and coordinated support helped people access services they may not otherwise have reached.
A&E response
One survivor described highly compassionate care from nursing staff, although support became fragmented after transfer to other services.
Sociodemographic insights
Thematic insights from domestic abuse experiences
The report highlights experiences from groups previously identified as underrepresented in domestic abuse services.
People from Asian or Asian British backgrounds
Common themes included housing, legal support, benefits issues and access to culturally sensitive support.
People from Black, Black British, African or Caribbean backgrounds
Key issues included emergency support, social support and financial hardship.
Younger people
Relational support and compassionate interventions were recurring themes among people aged 18-24.
People with lesbian, gay or bisexual sexual orientations
Experiences included forced marriage, honour-based violence, asylum issues and accessing specialist support networks.
For further detail, including firsthand lived experiences, thematic analysis, sociodemographic insights and references, please read the full report.
Support available
For further support on any of the topic mentioned, please see links to available support below.
Domestic abuse support
Find domestic abuse support in Kent and Medway
If you need support with any type of abusive behaviour, there are live chat and telephone services available across Kent and Medway 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Sexual abuse support
Find sexual abuse support in Kent and Medway
Information and support for adults, children and young people.
Mental health support
Mental Health Wellbeing Information Hub
Help and support if you are feeling anxious or stressed, down or low.
Specific services to support you are just a text, call, or click on a website or app away.
Kent and Medway Mental Health Crisis Line
Anyone experiencing an urgent mental health crisis can call 111 and select the option for mental health to speak to a specially trained mental health practitioner. If there is a risk to your life or someone else’s, please do not call 111. Dial 999 instead.
A highly trained and experienced team available 24/7 to provide expert support no matter what you are going through. Don’t suffer in silence. You can call the helpline on 0800 107 0160, text the word STAND to 85258, or use Rethink's webchat service.
Offering people aged 18+ free mental health and crisis support in a welcoming, comfortable, non-judgmental, and non-clinical environment. This is a drop-in service, with no referral or appointment required, via face-to-face or virtual support.
Call us any time, day or night. Whatever you’re going through, from any phone for free on 116 123.
