The Men’s Advisory Project NI (MAP NI) alsoreports the exhaustion of resources amid a surge in user numbers, particularly within the 18-25 age group
One In Three (32%) Of Domestic Abuse Crime in Northern Ireland Happens To Men
As International Men’s Day approaches this Sunday 19 November, the Men’s Advisory Project NI (MAP NI) has sounded a critical alarm about the escalating crisis of male domestic abuse here.
The charity, a non-government-funded organisation providing support to men recovering from domestic abuse, holds a prominent position in its field. However, it faces a critical challenge as it operates on self-funding, receiving no public funds, despite the prevalence of severe cases and the allocation of public funds to various other causes.
Every year MAP NI meets with approximately 1,000 men. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, a staggering 60% of these men are grappling with suicidal thoughts and intentions.
The charity has chosen to disclose some of its most worrying figures today in an effort to elicit a response from Stormont while creating more awareness of the struggles many men here face in terms of abuse, violence and suicide.
Men’s Advisory Project NI has also observed a notable demographic shift among its service users, particularly in the increased number of 18-25-year-olds seeking support. This age group now represents around 150 out of 1000 users, a stark contrast to the 25/50 in 1,000 reported in previous years. This sobering fact corresponds with research conducted by the NI Executive, indicating that 23% of surveyed 16-year-old males have encountered physical violence. Strikingly, they were notably less inclined than girls to disclose such abuse to a family member or close friend.
The charity is highlighting a shift towards younger men contemplating suicide, underscoring the dangerously under-acknowledged awareness of men’s struggles, despite MAP NI’s 25 years of dedicated operations.
The charity also says a rise in interfamilial abuse, now accounts for approximately 25% of their calls for support and advice. Five years ago, the majority of calls focused on partner or ex-partner abuse.
Rhonda Lusty, CEO of Men’s Advisory Project NI (MAP NI), said: “International Men’s Day is a poignant day for us to really lift the lid on the serious abuse many men face today and the trials they face while recovering. Despite 25 years of supporting victims, MAP NI continues to witness a pervasive unawareness of the prevalence of male domestic abuse and the needs of men who are struggling with abuse or the aftermath of abuse. Another compounding issue lies in consistent governmental organisation referrals to our services, exceeding our current capacities, especially in areas such as housing, for worsening mental health, and in the areas of substance abuse.
“We frequently encounter men in need of housing, yet the lack of provisions, such as insufficient hostels, leads to temporary solutions like B&Bs with next-morning evacuations. This unsustainable approach underscores the urgent need for more government support, direction, and contribution.
“Today, we sincerely urge Stormont and society to recognise and support these men who are desperately seeking help. Confronting homelessness, uncertainty, and the absence of dedicated or comprehensive services, the threat of suicide is alarmingly real for the men suffering.
“Confronting the uncomfortable reality of male domestic abuse, it’s imperative to allocate the necessary resources to assist these often overlooked and unsupported individuals.”
In May of this year, MAP NI organised its inaugural conference, delivering a crucial message about the insufficient support for and awareness of men in need. The event convened governmental bodies, frontline support practitioners and educators to dissect the prevalence of domestic abuse among men, unveil hidden statistics, and address the inadequate funding for equitable victim support.
The “Examining the experiences of men who face domestic abuse in NI” event also lay bare the, often concealed, domestic abuse statistics solely related to men that aren’t readily accessible to the public.
Among those figures are alarming metrics that one in three victims of domestic abuse and partner violence crime in Northern Ireland will be men, while five out of nine victims of domestic homicide here recently were male.*
Quoting PSNI statistics, the conference revealed that the PSNI was informed of just under half of all ‘worst’ cases of domestic abuse (45.7%) in the past year, leaving over half of the victims (54.3%) unaccounted for in their experiences. Considering the reluctance of male victims to report domestic abuse incidents, it emphasises the urgent need to extend support to more men than the current outreach.
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