Community-led initiative: Wigan campaigner highlights abuse-related health risks
Help is at hand for those in Wigan who may have suffered long-term medical consequences of domestic violence
A Wigan woman has turned her personal experience of surviving abuse into a community-wide campaign to raise awareness of the serious but often little-understood dangers posed by certain forms of domestic violence.
Courtney Carroll is leading the initiative to educate people across the borough about the risks of strangulation and suffocation in abusive situations; acts that medical professionals confirm can cause lasting brain injury, worsen seizure conditions, and have life-altering consequences that are not always immediately visible.
Strangulation and suffocation restrict oxygen and blood flow to the brain, sometimes for only a matter of seconds. Yet the impact can be profound.
Even brief incidents may cause permanent damage, memory impairment, and increased vulnerability to seizures. Effects can also be delayed, appearing hours, days, or even months after the attack.
Many people remain unaware of these risk: a gap Ms Carroll is working to close.
"These are serious, dangerous acts that can change someone's health and life forever, even when the harm isn't obvious right away," she said.
"That lack of understanding can leave people without the help or support they need. We need to change that."
Following her own experience of abuse — which included incidents that affected her physical health — Ms Carroll faced additional challenges, including the development of seizure conditions.
She is currently writing books to share her journey and inspire others, with one clear message at their heart: "Your journey does not end when the abuse ends.
“That is simply the beginning of your next chapter: one where you get to reclaim your life, your voice, and your future."
Ms Carroll is distributing free educational leaflets to Wigan schools, community centres, workplaces, GP practices, and anyone who would like copies to share.
They explain the risks, how to recognise when someone may be affected, and where people can access confidential support.
Community raffles are also being held to help fund and extend the campaign’s reach.
"Knowledge is protection," she said. "If more people understand the risks, more people can stay safe.
“If more people know where to turn, fewer people will feel alone. That's what this is all abou: looking out for each other, right here in our community."
For further information, to request free leaflets, or to find support services, email: [email protected]