Focus on safety

A couple discusses how a neighbour needs to make a safety plan before she leaves her abusive partner.

Story illustration - Panel 1
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Story illustration - Panel 4
Story illustration - Panel 5
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Story illustration - Panel 10

If you find yourself in this position, you can get help from these resources:

What should you take if you leave your spouse?
A list of the important documents and belongings to take with you when you leave a relationship.

Safety planning during COVID-19
Describes what safety plans are, how you can make a safety plan, and who can help you make one.

Live Safe, End Abuse
Information about relationship abuse that explain what abuse is and where people can get help.
 

Transcript:

Panel 1: Jesse and Keisha in bed, Keisha reading
Keisha: Oh no, he’s yelling at her again.
Jesse: That’s it, Keisha – I’m going over there! I’ll teach him a lesson!


Panel 2: Yelling in the background.
Keisha: No Jesse, you know that would only make things worse. And you might get hurt.


Panel 3: Yelling continues. Jesse holds his balled-up fist
Jesse: He needs to know you can’t treat someone like that. And he’s getting louder with each fight.


Panel 4: Jesse and Keisha speaking to each other
Keisha: You’re right. I was worried about her privacy before but abuse like this can’t stay private.
Jesse: Let’s just get her out of there now!


Panel 5:
Keisha: Look, we’d call the police right now if he was hurting her. But if she’s ready to move out, it can be dangerous without a safety plan.


Panel 6:  
Jesse: What do you mean?
Keisha: Before she leaves, she needs to call a victim service worker about how to stay safe from the time she leaves him.


Panel 7: Keisha speaking, thought bubble of a building
Keisha: A worker can get her to a shelter or transition house or another safe place while she could still be in danger.


Panel 8: Keisha counting ideas on her fingers
Keisha: They also know about things like taking ID, personal papers, and documents to do with money. Copies of his stuff too, if she can.


Panel 9:
Keisha: I know why you wanted to charge over to their apartment, honey. We'll see if we can get her alone and ask her if we can help.


Panel 10: Keisha wiping away a tear
Keisha: Let’s take a deep breath and keep the focus on safety. We can help a lot more with our heads and hearts, not our fists.