My ex was violent, alcoholic and would beat me up.Because I was new to Scotland I did not know what to do. I went to the GP and saw the poster for Women’s Aid. I contacted Women’s Aid and they sent a taxi to my place to collect me.
They asked me about my relationship, trusted what I said and sent me to safe accommodation.I stayed there and went to my local library in the days but I kept myself to myself and did not go anywhere else.Women’s Aid workers would do my shopping for me and gradually I started going to local shops but I was still not really free.A support worker would come in.
At the time I was really stressed and I had no-one except the support worker who would listen to me. Since I had no recourse they had to support me.At one stage I returned [to my husband] but very early on. Later on I came back to Women’s Aid. I went back because I trusted his promises to change. I saw returning was worse and returning a second time was not a choice at all.
When a woman is suffering from domestic abuse, they get other problems with their mental health, which can also cause physical problems.The government should think about the reduction on mental health services if they provided basic support for women.
They could cure the problem in the beginning. After all, those husbands are often Scottish husbands and the children are often Scottish children. If mothers are not feeling good, how are their children going to be feeling good? The current situation leads to women returning to their husbands because you don’t find any support.