Teen boys as young as 18 contacting Men’s Aid over domestic abuse

Men's Aid say the rate of domestic violence against men is rising despite a low rate of reporting.

A 2024 Men’s Aid report, produced in collaboration with Trinity College, indicates that of the 6,470 total engagements recorded, 2,943 were calls to the service. Almost 1,000 engagements were made with court services.

Andrea McDermott, clinical manager with Men's Aid Ireland says people would be surprised at how common abuse towards men is.

"We have had a young guy actually change from his school uniform into ordinary clothes who attended on our core supports," she said.

"He was 18, so we can't work with anybody under 18 because that is Tusla referral, that's a child protection issue. So from 18 up into their 90s, we've had men contacting us."

Gay men have a higher rate of intimate partner violence than heterosexual relationships, thought to be closer to one in three.

Researchers at DCU found the prevalence of violence in male to male intimate relationships is as high or equal to the rates experienced by heterosexual females.

Suicidal ideation is more common with with male victims of domestic abuse.

"They can't cope anymore with what's happening to them on a daily basis, if you're being told how useless you are, being told how crap you are, perpetrators will also encourage the children to also be abusive," McDermott added.

The biggest demographic reaching out to Men's Aid in Ireland are men, from the 40-55 age group, in heterosexual relationships.

McDermott says that they begin to reach out when their children grow up into teenagers and older.

"They've gotten their children to an age where the bond is not going to be broken if they need to leave that dangerous situation. So oftentimes they've gotten their kids to secondary school or out of secondary school, and then they try and leave the abusive situation," she told JOE.

The latest research was done in 2005, and found that 95% of men do not report domestic abuse and coercive control.

"70% of the men who are contacting us will talk about psychological abuse and emotional abuse, and 30% are talking about physical violence," McDermott added.

"Men will talk about physical violence differently because they focus more on the emotional and psychological stuff, and they often will say to us that it's physical abuse that they can handle, but the emotional and psychological abuses is where they find it much more difficult."

Men's Aid helpline is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm on 01 554 3811 or you can email: [email protected]