The cost to us all
The cost to individuals cannot be measured, but the costs of violence and abuse to the economy is shown to be very high.
A 2009 update report by Sylvia Walby on 'The Cost of Domestic Violence' estimated it costs the UK £15.8 billion each year in public service help for victims of domestic violence, and in the lost economic output of women.
In public services:
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health professionals treat injuries from physical and sexual violence
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teachers and education welfare officers are in daily contact with girls who are living with domestic violence or sexual abuse, or both
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social care workers get many referrals that involve some form of violence against women and girls – for example, domestic violence, child sexual abuse, adult survivors of child sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, trafficking, risk of female genital mutilation
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substance misuse services work with women who use drugs and alcohol as self-medication to cope with violence and abuse
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housing services support women who leave home to escape violence and abuse