Mental Health Awareness Week: ‘If you’re still breathing, you’re stronger than you know’
Woman’s Trust was featured on ITV News at the start of Mental Health Awareness Week, outlining the impact of domestic abuse as new figures revealed a sharp rise in domestic abuse offences across London.
Former clients Natasha* and Sarah* spoke with journalist Olivia Guthrie about the support they received from the charity, which helped them rebuild their lives.
Sarah said in the report: “If you’re still breathing, you’re stronger than you know.”
Sona Barbosa, Head of Therapeutic Services at Woman’s Trust, outlined the devastating psychological impact of coercive control and other forms of violence and abuse, and called for more Government funding.
Data from the Metropolitan Police shows more than 93,000 domestic abuse offences were recorded in the capital during 2025 – around 6,000 more than the previous year. Early figures for 2026 suggest the trend is continuing, with offences already up 7.6% in the first three months of the year.
Speaking as part of ITV’s report, Sarah described the difficulties of leaving her abuser. She said: “There were cameras in every room of my house. There were recording devices in every room in my house, so I couldn’t make a phone call safely. I knew that if I didn’t leave, I was going to die.”
The feature also highlighted growing concerns from Woman’s Trust that domestic abuse is becoming increasingly complex, psychologically harmful and severe, while many women struggle to access specialist mental health support after abuse.
Woman’s Trust is calling for greater investment in trauma-informed services and wider recognition of the link between domestic abuse, poor mental health and suicide risk.
Through its Living Without Hope campaign, the charity is asking for £27.5 million per year to fund specialist mental health support.
*Names changed.
Read the Living Without Hope report
Read our Open Letter to Ministers
