Domestic abuse has many faces, and the signs aren’t always obvious. ITV’s Loose Women have launched a powerful new initiative, Facing It Together, to help friends and family recognise when someone they care about might be in an abusive relationship – and to know what to do next.

As part of the campaign, posters have appeared across the UK highlighting lesser-known signs of abuse, encouraging people to look closer and reach out if they’re worried.

Spotting the Signs

The Facing It Together campaign lists common behaviours that may signal abuse. Someone might be:

• Spending less time with friends or family
• Being bombarded with calls or messages from their partner
• Struggling to focus or seeming anxious
• Making excuses or blaming themselves for their partner’s actions
• Avoiding activities they once enjoyed
• Having limited access to their finances
• Showing physical injuries or signs of distress

If any of these sound familiar, it might be time to check in gently.

How to Reach Out

It can be difficult to know what to say, but small steps can make a big difference. The Facing It Together Friends & Family Help Pack, produced with support from Find A Way, offers practical guidance and example questions such as:

• “We haven’t seen much of you lately – is everything OK?”
• “You said they don’t like it when you do [X] – what happens when you do things they don’t like?”

Listening without judgement, being patient, and letting someone know you’re there for them can help them feel less isolated and more supported.

Where to Find Help

If you’re worried about someone in your life, you can download the Friends & Family Help Pack from ITV’s Facing It Together campaign. It explains how to spot the warning signs and safely start a conversation.

You’ll also find helpful resources from Find A Way and SafeLives by heading to our Abusive Relationship page on the Be Charity Group website.

If You’re in Immediate Danger

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999 and ask for the police. If you can’t speak, press 55 when prompted to transfer the call silently.

Together, We Can Face It

Campaigns like Facing It Together remind us that domestic abuse doesn’t just affect individuals — it impacts entire families and communities. By learning the signs, offering support, and staying connected, we can all play a role in ending abuse.