Somerset Council is reminding residents that support is available for people experiencing domestic abuse, as the start of the New Year often brings an increase in calls to the Somerset Domestic Abuse Service.
Each January, services across the county see more people reaching out for help. While the festive season has ended, the pressures and stresses of Christmas can linger, becoming more apparent once daily routines resume. For many households, the holiday period can intensify tensions, and these may continue to affect relationships and family life in the weeks that follow.
Experts say that factors such as spending more time together over the festive period, financial pressures after Christmas, and isolation from friends, colleagues, and wider support networks can all contribute to controlling or abusive behaviour escalating. For some, the New Year brings reflection, helping individuals recognise that what they have experienced is not acceptable and that professional support is needed.
Practical barriers can also delay people seeking help. During school holidays, for instance, it can be difficult to find privacy to make contact safely. Many wait until January when it feels more manageable to reach out, and when the service is more accessible.
Cllr Federica Smith-Roberts, Lead Executive Member for Communities at Somerset Council, said: “The New Year can be a difficult time for many people, particularly if the festive period has brought added pressure or highlighted concerns at home. We know that reaching out for help isn’t easy, but no one has to face domestic abuse alone. I would urge anyone who needs support, or who is concerned about someone else, to get in touch with the Somerset Domestic Abuse Service and find out what help is available.”
Somerset Council emphasises that support is available for people in all situations, whether in immediate crisis, concerned about situations escalating, unsure how to describe what they are experiencing, or worried about someone else. The service also provides guidance for friends, family members, and professionals who want advice on how to offer support safely.
The Somerset Domestic Abuse Service can be contacted in several ways. Residents can call 0800 69 49 999 between 8am and 8pm, seven days a week, including bank holidays, or email domesticabuseservice@somerset.gov.uk. In the event of an immediate danger, callers should dial 999.
Those unable to speak can press 55 when prompted to connect to the police via the Silent Solution system. People who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-impaired can register with emergencySMS.net to text 999 in an emergency, and those who use British Sign Language can access 999 BSL for support.
In addition to phone and email support, the service provides in-person help at a central hub in Yeovil and at locations throughout Somerset.
Anyone planning to attend in person is advised to call 0800 69 49 999 and select option 2 to let the team know, so they can provide directions and ensure support is available on arrival.
Support is confidential, non-judgemental, and tailored to individual needs. People do not have to be certain about what they want to do next; conversations can begin simply by talking things through with a trained professional. The service is designed to guide individuals safely through the options available and to help them take the first steps toward safety and wellbeing.
Somerset Council encourages anyone experiencing domestic abuse, or who is concerned about someone else, to contact the Somerset Domestic Abuse Service. The council stresses that help is always available, and that no one has to face abuse alone.
