Find Help or Learn More
If you need help finding help or resources in and around Georgia, the following information may help you.
If you are going through or have gone through abuse, intimate partner violence or domestic violence and want to know more about your options, please call the Raksha helpline at 404-842-0725 or 1-866-725-7423. Advocates/Counselors are available Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Click on any of the section headings to find out more about the topics listed.
Who can call or get help from Raksha?
Abuse/domestic violence/intimate partner violence
Need Help Now?
Identifying Abuse
Domestic Violence & U.S. Law
Childhood Sexual Abuse
Health, medical and mental health
Economic Empowerment
` Who Can Call Raksha?
Can I call or get help from Raksha?
Does Raksha only help women?
No. Raksha helps men and women. While a majority of our clients are women, we have assisted many male clients as well. Some of the issues male clients face include immigration, marital difficulties, financial problems, and emotional and generation conflicts.
Does Raksha only assist with family violence matters?
No. Raksha also assists with many other issues facing the South Asian community. Although a majority of our calls are domestic/family violence related, we also assist clients in other matters including parenting concerns, HIV/AIDS, counseling, legal needs, immigration, and assimilation. The majority of calls to our help line are from those affected by family violence, but as the needs and issues the community faces change, Raksha adapts and expands its programs to meet its needs.
Does Raksha only serve the Indian community?
No. Raksha assists all South Asians. Raksha defines South Asians as people or descendents from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka We do not discriminate on the basis of religion, nationality or language. We also have a multilingual staff to assist our clients with linguistic needs.
How can Raksha help me?
More on direct services...
Raksha’s community building programs increase awareness around issues such as immigration, the myth of the model minority, family violence, child sexual abuse, hate crimes, stalking, LGBT issues, access to health care and workforce readiness within the South Asian community.
More on community outreach programs...
Raksha strives to promote cultural sensitivity and provides technical assistance on the unique needs of South Asians to law enforcement agencies, social service agencies and health care providers, among others.
More on legal advocacy...
Abuse, domestic violence, intimate partner violence
What is Domestic Violence? (from the National Domestic Violence Hotlinel)
Domestic violence can be defined as a pattern of behavior in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner.
Abuse is physical, sexual, emotional, economic or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that frighten, intimidate, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure or wound someone.
Domestic violence can happen to anyone of any race, age, sexual orientation, religion or gender. It can happen to couples who are married, living together or who are dating. Domestic violence affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels.
You may be in an emotionally abusive relationship if your partner:
- Calls you names, insults you or continually criticizes you.
- Does not trust you and acts jealous or possessive.
- Tries to isolate you from family or friends.
- Monitors where you go, who you call and who you spend time with.
- Does not want you to work.
- Controls finances or refuses to share money.
- Punishes you by withholding affection.
- Expects you to ask permission.
- Threatens to hurt you, the children, your family or your pets.
- Humiliates you in any way.
You may be in a physically abusive relationship if your partner has ever:
- Damaged property when angry (thrown objects, punched walls, kicked doors, etc.).
- Pushed, slapped, bitten, kicked or choked you.
- Abandoned you in a dangerous or unfamiliar place.
- Scared you by driving recklessly.
- Used a weapon to threaten or hurt you.
- Forced you to leave your home.
- Trapped you in your home or kept you from leaving.
- Prevented you from calling police or seeking medical attention.
- Hurt your children.
- Used physical force in sexual situations.
You may be in a sexually abusive relationship if your partner:
- Views women as objects and believes in rigid gender roles.
- Accuses you of cheating or is often jealous of your outside relationships.
- Wants you to dress in a sexual way.
- Insults you in sexual ways or calls you sexual names.
- Has ever forced or manipulated you into to having sex or performing sexual acts.
- Held you down during sex.
- Demanded sex when you were sick, tired or after beating you.
- Hurt you with weapons or objects during sex.
- Involved other people in sexual activities with you.
- Ignored your feelings regarding sex.
If you answered 'yes' to these questions you may be in an abusive relationship; please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or your local domestic violence center to talk with someone about it.
How to help a family member or friend who is being abused (taken from the National Domestic Violence Hotline - http://www.ndvh.org/educate/fandf-educate.html)
Don’t be afraid to let him or her know that you are concerned for their safety. Help your friend or family member recognize the abuse. Tell him or her you see what is going on and that you want to help. Help them recognize that what is happening is not “normal” and that they deserve a healthy, non-violent relationship.
Acknowledge that he or she is in a very difficult and scary situation. Let your friend or family member know that the abuse is not their fault. Reassure him or her that they are not alone and that there is help and support out there.
Be supportive. Listen to your friend or family member. Remember that it may be difficult for him or her to talk about the abuse. Let him or her know that you are available to help whenever they may need it. What they need most is someone who will believe and listen to them.
Be non-judgmental. Respect your friend or family member’s decisions. There are many reasons why victims stay in abusive relationships. He or she may leave and return to the relationship many times. Do not criticize his or her decisions or try to guilt them. He or she will need your support even more during those times.
Encourage him or her to participate in activities outside of the relationship with friends and family.
If he or she ends the relationship, continue to be supportive of them. Even though the relationship was abusive, your friend or family member may still feel sad and lonely once it is over. He or she will need time to mourn the loss of the relationship and will especially need your support at that time.
Help him or her to develop a safety plan.
Encourage him or her to talk to people who can provide help and guidance. Find a local domestic violence agency that provides counseling or support groups. Offer to go with him or her to talk to family and friends. If he or she has to go to the police, court or a lawyer, offer to go along for moral support.
Remember that you cannot “rescue” him or her. Although it is difficult to see someone you care about get hurt, ultimately the person getting hurt has to be the one to decide that they want to do something about it. It’s important for you to support him or her and help them find a way to safety and peace.
If you think your friend or family member may be abusive, click here to find out more.
Please call the 24-hour National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or TTY 1-800-787-3224 to discuss your concerns and questions. |
