Resources for Common Types of Abuse
Abuse organizations are ready to answer your questions, connect you with local resources, and help you find clarity. You can call them even if you’re unsure that what you’re experiencing counts as abuse.
Here are resources for different types of abuse:
- Sexual abuse: Send an online message, call (800) 656-4673, or text HOPE to 64673 to start a confidential conversation with RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline operators about finding support close to home.
- Child abuse: Call or text (800) 422-4453 to contact Childhelp’s National Child Abuse Hotline if you experienced abuse as a child or someone in your family is suffering.
- Nursing home abuse: Find your state’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program and call them. Their representatives can start no-cost investigations into nursing home complaints.
- Elder abuse: Contact your state’s Adult Protective Services (APS) program if you’d like to report suspected elder neglect, abuse, or exploitation.
- Domestic abuse: Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-7233, text START to 88788, or send an online message to talk with advocates about accessing domestic abuse support resources, even if you’re not ready to leave your relationship.
- Financial abuse: Get in touch with the Savvy Ladies Helpline by submitting a question online or downloading the organization’s app for free counseling.
- Drug abuse: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline is ready to support anyone struggling with drugs or alcohol if they call (800) 662-4357.
If you call one of these abuse resources and they’re not the right fit, a representative or team member may suggest other places where you can get support. Her Case Matters also provides help for abuse victims who want to file a civil lawsuit and seek abuse compensation.
Get a free case review now.
Sexual Abuse Resources
Sexual abuse survivors may not feel comfortable reporting an assault. However, you can access help without any pressure to involve law enforcement. If you’re ready, many of these resources are available 24/7.
However, if you’re in danger or crisis, always call 911 for help.
National resources for sexual abuse victims include:
- LGBT National Help Center: Call (888) 843-4564 to learn where you can find gender-affirming mental and physical health care providers while you’re recovering from abuse.
- National Human Trafficking Hotline: Text 233733, call (888) 373-7888, or send a chat message to get specialized support if you’re a sex trafficking survivor or see someone potentially being trafficked.
- National Runaway Safeline: Call (800) 786-2929 if you’re a young person who has run away from home to escape abuse. Trained staff members can connect you with local support organizations.
- RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline: Call (800) 656-4673, text HOPE to 64673, or start an online chat to get free, confidential sexual abuse support from advocacy experts in your community.
- The Deaf Hotline: Call (855) 812-1001 or message the organization online if you or someone you love is part of the deaf community and needs help dealing with or escaping sexual abuse.
Women’s abuse resources and LGBTQ+ affirming organizations help victims of sexual assault or harassment every day. You can also reach out to Her Case Matters about your legal rights after sexual abuse or mistreatment.
Child Abuse Resources
There are many resources for abuse victims who are still minors. You can also contact advocacy groups if you experienced child abuse decades ago. Many victims take years to process what happened and ask for help.
Here are some leading child abuse resources:
- Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: Call or text (800) 422-4453 to get confidential, free support after child sexual abuse or domestic violence. Online chat is also available.
- Darkness to Light: Call (843) 965-5444 to access child sexual abuse prevention resources and training materials. They could clarify whether you’re seeing red flags or help you become an advocate.
- Department of Social Services (DSS): Your state’s DSS helps abuse victims by investigating claims and getting kids out of dangerous situations. Call 911 or your state’s DSS office if you need immediate crisis intervention.
- National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) CyberTipline: Report online exploitation of a child through the CyberTipline’s virtual form.
Organizations can provide child sexual abuse resources and response strategies if you have concerns about a minor. Acting quickly could prevent further harm.
Nursing Home Abuse Resources
Older adults living in nursing homes or long-term care facilities may be in danger of physical, sexual, financial, or emotional abuse.
Remember, always call 911 if your loved one is in a life-threatening situation.
Otherwise, you can contact these nursing home abuse resources:
- Adult Protective Services (APS): Each state has an APS office that investigates abuse, neglect, or exploitation in assisted living facilities and in-home care settings.
- Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program: Every state has an ombudsman program where trained advocates investigate complaints about nursing homes and assisted living facilities, free of charge.
- National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA): This organization provides leadership on federal and state policies and strategies to improve nursing home residents’ care and quality of life.
- Your state’s health department: Nursing homes and care facilities get their licenses through the state health department, so it may start an investigation if you file a complaint.
Investigations may lead to positive change in nursing homes, but might not result in compensation for family members. If you want to seek an abuse settlement to pay for expenses like medical bills, relocation, or funeral costs, Her Case Matters may be able to help.
Resources for Elderly Abuse
Elderly individuals don’t have to live in a nursing home to experience abuse. Family members, friends, and in-home caregivers can also cause physical, mental, and emotional harm.
Contact these organizations to get elder abuse resources:
- Abused Adult Resource Center: Call the 24/7 hotline at (866) 341-7009 to reach an adult abuse resource center for physical, sexual, financial, and emotional abuse concerns.
- National Council on Aging (NCOA): Visit the NCOA website to find educational abuse resources covering prevention, response strategies, and much more.
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: Call (800) 799-7233, send a chat message online, or text START to 88788 if you’ve seen an elderly person suffering from family, intimate partner, or caregiver violence at home.
- National Elder Fraud Hotline: Call 1 (833) 372-8311 on Mondays through Fridays between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. EST to report elder abuse involving consumer scams, identity theft, and financial fraud.
More than 65% of elder abuse victims are women, and the harm is often invisible until someone close looks carefully. Contact any of these organizations to find help for abuse victims who may not be able to advocate for themselves due to their advanced age.
Domestic Abuse Resources
Intimate partner or domestic abuse may slowly develop through the control of money, isolation from friends, monitoring of texts, verbal threats, and escalating physical violence. Getting to safety is rarely simple, but many organizations are waiting to help.
These are some of the best resources for domestic abuse victims:
- DomesticShelters.org: Use the largest searchable directory of domestic violence shelters and programs in the U.S. and Canada to get support whenever you’re ready.
- Futures Without Violence: Read this organization’s spousal abuse resources to learn about red flags, the latest domestic violence news, and how you can become an advocate.
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: Call (800) 799-7233, start an online chat, or text START to 88788 to get anonymous support and resources for victims of domestic abuse or intimate partner violence.
- The Hotline’s safety planning guide: If you don’t feel safe calling, texting, or messaging the National Domestic Violence Hotline team, their step-by-step guide has resources for abused women that could help you make a personalized safety plan.
- WomensLaw.org: Visit this abuse resource to get plain-language legal information on protective orders, custody, and divorce in every state, and a confidential email hotline.
No one deserves the harm caused by domestic abuse. Accessing help could allow you or your loved one to find safety quickly, regardless of your circumstances.
Financial Abuse Resources
Financial abuse has many forms, including manipulation into spending money, controlling someone else’s income, or opening accounts in another’s name without permission. Organizations providing help for abuse victims could show you or your loved one how to regain control of your finances.
You’ll find resources for financial abuse victims with organizations including:
- Allstate Foundation’s Moving Ahead Curriculum: Women use this free tool to rebuild their finances and improve their credit scores.
- National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) Economic Justice Project: You can find local financial abuse advocates through this resource. They’ll help you outline your current financial capabilities and make a plan to turn short-term safety into long-term economic security.
- Savvy Ladies Helpline: This organization provides free financial counseling for women, so they understand their options after abuse and develop strategies to secure their future.
Sometimes, financial abuse is part of ongoing issues like domestic, sexual, or elder abuse. Her Case Matters may be able to help in those situations.
Filing an abuse lawsuit could help you access compensation that restores your financial losses so you can have a fresh start. Call us at (877) 904-4241 to see if you qualify.
Drug Abuse Resources
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network found that 25-76% of people with substance use disorders have had previous trauma exposure. If you’re struggling with substance use issues and unresolved trauma, trained professionals providing abuse resources may be able to help.
Contact these substance abuse resources for support:
- Drugfree.org Helpline: Call (855) 378-4373 or text 55753 to reach counselors who provide education and guidance to anyone who’s ready to get sober. Friends and family members can also call for support.
- FindTreatment.gov: SAMHSA offers this confidential, anonymous tool for finding resources for drug abuse recovery, like mental health care providers, across the U.S. and its territories.
- Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Locator: Use this tool designed by SAMHSA to find local providers offering medication-assisted treatment for substance use disorder.
- SAMHSA National Helpline: Call (800) 662-4357 to speak with trained counselors about substance use treatment referrals, your mental health, or maintaining sobriety.
If you feel ready to pursue justice, Her Case Matters may be able to help if you’ve previously experienced sexual, child, or physical abuse. Our team is standing by to provide clarity and guidance.
How to File an Abuse Lawsuit
Abuse lawsuits provide paths to accountability and justice. You can potentially file one by working with our team members and the abuse lawyers in our network.
Here’s what that process looks like:
- Get a free case review: Our compassionate team will listen to your experience and let you know if you can take legal action.
- Gather evidence: Work with one of the abuse attorneys in our network to collect evidence and strengthen your claim, which may include medical records, eyewitness accounts, and more.
- File your abuse lawsuit: Your abuse lawyer will prepare the proper paperwork and file your lawsuit in civil court before your state’s filing deadline passes.
- Recover at home: Spend time resting at home while your lawyer negotiates compensation or represents you in court, if necessary.
Our partner lawyers have recovered $10.5 Billion to date for victims of injustice, including those who got help and filed abuse lawsuits.
Our team is ready to provide legal help for abuse victims, so don’t wait. Your state’s filing deadline may pass quickly, because some statutes of limitations for abuse lawsuits are as little as one year.
Talk with our team today to get no-cost guidance about your legal rights.
Access Abuse Resources and Get Support
Abuse resources can help during a crisis or long after your trauma happened. You don’t need to have proof of your abuse to get support from hotlines or nonprofits.
We also provide help for abuse victims who are ready to pursue justice and financial restitution. If you’ve experienced physical, sexual, childhood, or elder abuse, reach out today to see if you qualify for a lawsuit.
Call (877) 904-4241 or get your free case review now to get answers.
Abuse Resources FAQs
What are the resources available for victims of abuse?
Help for abuse victims comes in many forms. Exploring all the available abuse resources could help you find what you need to reach safety or seek justice.
As always, call 911 immediately if you’re in danger.
Otherwise, these are common types of abuse resources:
- Hotlines: Call, text, or send online messages to organizations with trained counselors ready to listen within designated hours or on 24/7 schedules.
- Legal support: Abuse lawyers negotiate settlements in eligible cases that help abuse victims pay for the care they need to recover.
- Local organizations: Small nonprofits in your community could provide affordable support close to home and referrals to local physical or mental health providers.
- Medical care: Always reach out to nearby health care providers — like public or private clinics, urgent care centers, and hospitals — if you need treatment for injuries or conditions stemming from abuse.
- National organizations: Larger organizations with national reach may have 24/7 availability and a broader network of care providers for people suffering from specific kinds of abuse.
Help for abuse victims is available around the clock, so you can get help whenever you’re ready. If you’re interested in seeking accountability for the harm you’ve experienced, our team can provide clarity.
Contact us today to see if you can file an abuse lawsuit.
What are some domestic abuse resources near me?
Domestic abuse resources differ by state and county. You can find the closest options by asking for help from local, county, or state authorities.
Start with these options:
- 911: Call the police if you’re in immediate or life-threatening danger.
- County domestic abuse offices: County-level nonprofits can connect you with domestic abuse resources. Your county may also have a domestic abuse team in the local sheriff’s office that can help you with legal steps like getting a restraining order.
- State domestic violence agencies: Your state’s Department of Justice could have an abuse office with hotlines, counseling services, and connections to statewide domestic violence shelters.
If you’re struggling to find local help for abuse victims, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-7233. They have extensive connections to abuse resources trained to help domestic abuse survivors across the country.
What are the best resources for addressing student substance abuse?
Addressing student substance abuse is challenging as a parent, teacher, or mentor. Showing a young person where they can get help may empower them to start their sobriety journey, but only if they’re ready.
Suggest that they try abuse resources like:
- Alateen: Alateen is Alcoholics Anonymous’ teen-focused group for young people struggling with alcohol or living with someone who has alcoholism. The website has a locator for in-person and online support group meetings so anyone who’s ready can get support.
- FindTreatment.gov: The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services provides this treatment facility locator, which can help you find nationwide support for people of all ages.
- National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence (NCADD): This organization has a list of recovery resources for people of all ages who want to get help for their substance use disorders, eating disorders, and other mental health issues.
- National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA): The NIAAA has abuse resources for young people or those who are new to recovery. Read their guides to learn about drinking habits, evaluate your own, and get tools to navigate sobriety.
- Teen Line: Call (800) 852-8336 or text TEEN to 839863 between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. PST. Teen Line trains teenagers to be peer counselors, which some young people may find less intimidating than talking to an adult.
Even the best help for abuse victims may not work if someone’s not ready to change. If you’re helping a student with substance abuse issues, empowering them with resources could help them take that step.
What resources are available for victims of relationship abuse?
Victims of relationship abuse can contact numerous resources for assistance. Organizations specialize in different types of partner abuse, so anyone can get support.
Check out these relationship abuse resources:
- Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: Text or call (800) 422-4453 for confidential support if you or someone you love is experiencing parent-child relationship abuse, which may include physical, emotional, mental, or sexual issues.
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: Send an online message, text START to 88788, or call (800) 799-7233 to speak with someone about resources for abusive relationships.
- National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) Economic Justice Project: If you need help getting out of an abusive relationship, this organization can help you create a financial plan forward.
Abuse resources are available for people of all ages and in any kind of relationship. If you reach out and don’t connect with the right organization, they can refer you to another resource that may be a better fit.
You can also talk with our team at (877) 904-4241 if you think you’re ready to file an abuse lawsuit. We’ll listen to your story and help you figure out your next steps.
What are the 7 signs of emotional abuse?
There are numerous signs of emotional abuse, which can be difficult to spot. If you think you’ve seen or experienced one, don’t hesitate to reach out to local or national abuse resources.
These are the 7 signs of emotional abuse:
- Blame-shifting: Making the victim feel responsible for the abuser’s toxic or harmful behaviors
- Bullying: Verbal harassment like name-calling, criticism, public or private humiliation
- Gaslighting: Manipulative comments that make the victim doubt their own sanity, memory, or reality
- Intimidation and threats: Comments that cause guilt or self-hatred to force compliance
- Isolation: Forcing the victim to avoid loved ones to make them more dependent on the abuser
- Micromanagement: Extreme control of the victim’s decisions or overstepping of personal boundaries, like GPS monitoring or financial control
- The silent treatment: Emotional unavailability to generate guilt or fear that makes the victim submit
Some abuse resources help people get out of bad situations, while others can provide clarity if you’re not ready to leave.
Figuring out whether you’re experiencing emotional abuse by looking for any of the 7 signs could help you understand your pain and get guidance.
What are the 3 R's of domestic violence?
The 3 R’s of domestic violence help people support victims who may not be able to help themselves. Once you learn them, you can advocate for others and teach people the same skills.
These are the 3 R’s of domestic violence:
- Recognize: Trust your gut when something looks wrong, like unexplained behavioral changes or injuries in someone who may be in an abusive relationship.
- Respond: If it’s safe, ask the victim if they feel safe at home. Validate them by acknowledging their feelings and respecting what they want to do about their situation.
- Refer: Get help from trusted sources, like local domestic violence support groups or law enforcement, if the situation becomes dangerous.
Finding help for abuse victims is noble, but they may not always be ready to do something about their situation. Have patience and practice the 3 R’s so you’re an informed advocate for your community.
What is an organization that helps victims?
There are many organizations that help victims, depending on their circumstances. If you’re looking for abuse resources for yourself or a loved one, don’t hesitate to reach out to people who can help.
Start with these organizations:
- National Center for Victims of Crime (NCVC): Anyone can call the NCVC at (855) 484-2846 if they think they’re experiencing any type of abuse and need non-emergency help finding resources, support, or referrals to local care providers.
- Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN): RAINN trains people to help victims of sexual violence, even those who aren’t sure what they experienced counts as sexual abuse. Text HOPE to 64673 or call (800) 656-4673 to talk with someone at any time, any day of the week.
- Safe Horizon: Safe Horizon team members help victims of all kinds of abuse get emergency support and form long-term plans to reach whatever environment feels safest to them. They’re available at (800) 621-4673 around the clock.
You don’t have to prove anything to access help for abuse victims. Reach out to support organizations to talk with trained counselors about what you’re experiencing and how they can help.
If you’d like to learn about your legal rights after experiencing abuse, get a free case review. We may be able to connect you with the abuse lawyers in our network to help you get justice.
Can I go to a shelter for emotional abuse?
Yes, you can go to a shelter for emotional abuse without having experienced physical abuse. All you have to do is find abuse shelters near your home and ask for help.
You can search for local shelters by visiting the locator page created by DomesticShelters.org. It provides a list of domestic abuse shelters by city or zip code, so you don’t have to travel far to reach a safe environment.
Written by: Her Case Matters
At HerCaseMatters, we believe women deserve to be heard — especially when it comes to their health and safety. Too often, harmful drugs, devices, and corporate wrongdoing impact women’s lives without proper warning, support, or accountability. We’re here to change that. We work with trusted legal partners who are deeply experienced in holding powerful companies accountable. But more than that, we’re here to remind women everywhere that their pain is real, their experiences matter, and they deserve justice.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (March 2021). Elder abuse and women’s health. Retrieved from: https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2021/03/elder-abuse-and-womens-health.
- Roseman University of Health Sciences. (September 3, 2019). Domestic violence: Recognize, respond, refer. Retrieved from: https://www.roseman.edu/student-experience/news/domestic-violence-recognize-respond-refer/.
- The National Child Traumatic Stress Network. (n.d.). Making the connection: Trauma and substance abuse. Retrieved from: https://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/resources/making_the_connection_trauma_substance_abuse.pdf.
