What to do when you think someone you know is being physically or mentally abused? 

What to do when you think someone you know is being physically or mentally abused?  This is a four-part series-

PART IV – REACHING OUT AND CALLING THE ILLINOIS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HELPLINE 877-863-6338

If I call the helpline, do I need to be ready to leave my partner?

Absolutely not. Their member advocates are there to support you no matter where you are at in your experience. They know that not everyone wants to or can leave, for a whole host of reasons. Their role is not to give advice or tell you what to do. Rather, advocates want to support you in identifying what you need and want, and then figuring out the best way to move forward from there.
 
Can I call the helpline if I am worried about a friend/sibling/colleague/patient?
Please do! Some of the most important work their member advocates do is to help community members support the survivors in their lives.
 
Who learns about what I discuss with the helpline advocate?
Domestic violence advocates take confidentiality seriously. They know that it takes courage to reach out and share some of the most private and intimate details about your life, and honoring that courage requires a commitment to privacy. They also know that the disclosure of that information can potentially put callers at risk of serious harm. For those reasons, advocates are bound by strict federal confidentiality laws that prohibit them from sharing any identifying information about callers outside of their organization, except with specific permission. 
 
How does the statewide helpline work?
The Illinois statewide number routes callers to the domestic violence resource center that will best suit your needs after they discuss with you what services you may need.
 
My partner has never physically hurt me. Can I still call?
Absolutely. They hear all the time from people who thought they could not call us because what was happening to them wasn’t “bad enough.” But advocates are here for you, whether your partner is physically abusive or whether you are just trying to sort out why you feel like something is “not quite right” in the relationship.
 
I am in immediate danger right now! Should I call an advocate?
If your partner is posing an immediate threat to you and/or your family, please call 911, not the helpline. Advocates are not able to intervene in the way first responders can, and every minute can count in an emergency. Law enforcement is trained to connect people with advocacy services after a domestic violence assault, and they are here to help you through the aftermath of a violent episode. But in the moment of the emergency, please call 911 first.