Refuge’s latest data reveals a troubling increase in domestic abuse affecting young women aged 16 to 25, with psychological abuse, coercive control, and physical violence becoming more widespread

Of the 842 young survivors who received ongoing support, 73 percent reported psychological abuse, and 60 percent experienced coercive control — a manipulative pattern of behaviour intended to isolate and intimidate.

Nearly half (49 percent) of those reporting psychological abuse said they had been threatened with harm, while 35 percent were threatened with death. Both figures represent year-on-year increases, signalling a rise in the severity of abuse.

Physical violence was reported by 62 percent of young survivors, with half of those experiencing non-fatal strangulation or suffocation. This marks a nine percent increase from the previous year and is recognised as a strong predictor of future domestic homicide.

Young people accounted for 16 percent of all new referrals to Refuge’s services in 2024 to 2025. The charity continues to advocate for comprehensive education on healthy relationships and has welcomed the Department for Education’s updated Relationships, Sex and Health Education (RSHE) guidance, which aims to help young people identify and respond to less visible forms of abuse such as coercive control.