- What support is available?
- How can I access support?
- Where can I find the team?
- What is domestic abuse?
- Types of domestic abuse
What support is available?
If you have experienced domestic abuse, sexual harassment, sexual assault, rape, or stalking, support is available.
Our trained support practitioners can listen, support you, and help you understand your options.
We provide short-term support, advice, and guidance if you are experiencing harm, abuse, or difficulties in a relationship. This may include:
- Domestic abuse
- Sexual harassment
- Sexual assault or rape
- Stalking
- Harm or abuse in intimate or family relationships
We take a holistic approach, meaning we look at both your personal wellbeing and your studies to make sure you get the right support.
If needed, we can also refer you to specialist organisations for additional help.
Contact the Harassment and Abuse Support Team
How can I access support?
You can choose the type of appointment that works best for you:
- Online
- Face-to-face
- Telephone
Support may be provided as a combination of these options, depending on what works best for you.
Where can I find the team?
Student Wellbeing is available to all University of Hertfordshire students.
You can find Student Wellbeing at:
- College Lane Campus
- De Havilland Campus
What is domestic abuse?
Domestic abuse is when someone tries to control, threaten, harm, or intimidate you.
This behaviour is usually from a partner or ex-partner, but it can also come from a family member or carer.
Abuse can happen once or repeatedly, and it can take many different forms.
Types of domestic abuse
Controlling or Coercive Behaviour
A pattern of behaviour used to control or intimidate you.
Examples include:
- Pressuring or threatening you
- Taking away your phone, laptop, or internet access
- Destroying or deleting your university work
- Controlling money or refusing to give you access to it
- Threatening to report you to the police or authorities
- Threatening your visa or immigration status
- Threatening self-harm or suicide to pressure you
- Lying to friends or family about you
Emotional or Psychological Abuse
Behaviour that affects your confidence, wellbeing, or independence.
Examples include:
- Shouting, mocking, or name-calling
- Constantly accusing you of things
- Controlling what you wear or where you go
- Forcing you to stay in constant contact
- Publicly shaming or humiliating you
- Extreme jealousy or possessiveness
Physical or sexual abuse
Any unwanted physical or sexual behaviour.
Examples include:
- Hitting, kicking, biting, spitting, or hair pulling
- Pinching or pushing
- Pressuring or forcing you to have sex
- Recording or sharing intimate images without consent
Financial or Economic Abuse
When someone controls or misuses your money.
Examples include:
- Taking money from you
- Taking loans out in your name
- Controlling your benefits or income
- Preventing you from accessing your money
Harassment or Stalking
Repeated behaviour that makes you feel unsafe or monitored.
Examples include:
- Following you or tracking your location
- Using devices like AirTags to monitor you
- Repeated calls or messages you did not ask for
- Opening your emails or post
- Monitoring your social media activity
Online or digital abuse
Using technology to threaten or harm you.
Examples include:
- Sending abusive messages
- Threatening violence, rape, or death online
- Threatening harm to you or people you care about
Threats and intimidation
Actions meant to scare or control you.
Examples include:
- Destroying belongings or breaking things
- Punching walls or making aggressive gestures
- Threatening to harm you, children, pets, or family members
- Threatening suicide to control you
Isolation
Trying to cut you off from others.
Examples include:
- Stopping you from seeing friends or family
- Monitoring your phone, emails, or social media
- Telling you where you can and cannot go
- Preventing you from leaving the house