BREAKING SILENCE

Silence Is Often Part of Abuse

Many forms of abuse rely on silence to continue. Silence may be enforced through fear, shame, loyalty, religious pressure, financial dependence, or concern about not being believed.

Silence is not a personal failure. It is often a survival strategy in situations where speaking up feels unsafe or impossible.

Why People Stay Silent

People may remain silent about abuse because:

• They fear retaliation or escalation

• They worry about being disbelieved or blamed

• They don’t have language for what’s happening

• They want to protect children, elders, or family members

• They fear social, cultural, or religious consequences

• They are financially or practically dependent on others
  .

Silence is often the result of careful calculation, not denial.

When Silence Is Enforced

Abusive situations frequently include explicit or implicit rules about speaking:

• “Don’t tell anyone”

• “This will destroy the family”

• “Good people keep these things private”

• “No one will believe you”
  .

These messages are designed to isolate and control. They shift responsibility away from harm and onto the person experiencing it.

Breaking Silence Doesn’t Mean Doing Everything at Once

Breaking silence does not require:

• Public disclosure

• Confrontation

• Leaving a relationship

• Making a formal report
  .

Sometimes, breaking silence simply means telling one safe person — or even saying something out loud to yourself for the first time.

Every step counts.

Choosing When and How to Speak

You have the right to decide:

• If you speak

• Who you speak to

• What you share

• When you share it
  .

Safety matters more than disclosure. For some people, remaining silent for a time is the safest option. Support can still be available without exposure.

The Cost of Prolonged Silence

While silence can protect in the short term, long-term silence can carry its own cost:

• Increased isolation

• Growing self-doubt

• Internalised blame or shame

• Physical and mental health impacts
  .

Support can help reduce this burden — even if nothing else changes immediately.

Breaking Silence in Religious or Community Settings

In families, faith communities, or tight-knit groups, silence is often framed as loyalty, forgiveness, or endurance. This can make speaking up feel like a moral failure rather than a safety need.

Seeking help is not a betrayal.
Naming harm is not an attack on belief, family, or community.

How HKSG Can Support You

HKSG provides:

• A confidential space to talk

• Listening without pressure or expectation

• Support in finding language for your experience

• Respect for your pace and choices
  .

You do not need to be certain.
You do not need to act.
You do not need to justify yourself.

Support Now

If you are in immediate danger, call 000.

For confidential support in Australia 1800RESPECT — 1800 737 732 (24/7)