Men’s exposure to intimate partner violence and their experiences with a crisis centre in Denmark

Many countries are unable to offer men and their children a safe place to stay when exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV). Denmark is an exception by having implemented a coordinated effort in 2016 of meeting the need of male victims of IPV and their children. This presents an opportunity for in-depth exploration of the experiences of male victims of IPV. In this study we present a review of men’s exposure to IPV in Denmark, the experiences of 58 men who stayed in six crisis centres for men, and present results from a follow-up pilot study working with these men. Men staying in the crisis centres reported having been exposed to psychological, physical, economical, material violence and stalking perpetrated predominantly by a female partner or ex-partner. In the follow-up several men reported still being exposed to different types of violence and threats. The men experienced a number of adverse outcomes associated with their experiences, but described a positive impact by the combination of help offered at the shelters. This study points to the importance of safe accommodation for male victims of IPV and includes recommendations for practice.