Seeking Help for Domestic Abuse

You deserve to be in a healthy, happy relationship. Verbal or physical abuse from a partner is never something you deserve or have brought on yourself. Your abuser is intentionally harming you. And that is always wrong.

AHN providers regularly screen for signs of physical, psychological, emotional, or sexual abuse at any and all checkups. Know that you can always speak up during a visit and our compassionate team can connect you to the help you need.

We’ve also put a list together of local resources and shelters below.  If you're in immediate danger or fear for your life, call 911.

What is domestic abuse?

Domestic abuse, also called domestic violence or Intimate Partner Violence, is any type of physical, psychological, emotional, or sexual abuse that happens between you and a current or former partner or spouse.

From hitting to controlling behavior to forcing sexual acts, abuse can take on many, many forms. Take a look.

You're not alone

Domestic abuse can happen to anyone, at any time, regardless of age, race, culture, status, class, education, or religion. Once violence begins, it typically becomes worse and more frequent over time.

• On average, 24 people per minute are victims of rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner in the U.S. That’s over 12 million people in a single year.*
• Women ages 18 to 34 generally experience the highest rates of abuse.*
• Nearly 1 in 10 women in the U.S. have been raped by a partner in their lifetime.*
• Two-thirds of female stalking victims were stalked by current or former partners.*
• 30%–60% of abusers also abuse children in the household.*

How to get help for an abusive relationship

If you’re in an abusive situation, you can always take action, including seeking medical attention, filing a police report, saving evidence, or getting a written court order, called a Protection From Abuse (PFA) order.

Legal assistance 

If you’re a victim of abuse, you have the right to go to court and file a petition to request a Protection From Abuse (PFA) order. The order can provide various safety options, which may include:

• Restraining the abuser from causing further harm to you
• Ordering the abuser to leave your household
• Preventing the abuser from contacting or harassing you at your workplace or school
• Giving you temporary custody of children
• Ordering the abuser to pay temporary support

If you’re ready to take legal action against your abuser, or get counseling and legal assistance, contact the following:

Family Division
(412) 350-5600
440 Ross Street, 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Weekdays 9:00 to 11:00 AM

Emergency Night Court
(412) 350-3240
660 First Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
After 6:00 PM and weekends
Petition good for 24 hours

Women’s Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh
(412) 355-7400
Weekdays from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM 

Your Local District Justice
Weekdays (call for specific hours)

Sexual assault resources

If you’ve been physically assaulted or raped, reach out to one of these 24/7 resources:

Center for Victims Hotline
(412) 392-8582

Hearth
(412) 366-9801

Pittsburgh Action Against Rape
(412) 765-2731

Women’s Place
(412) 482-3240, ext. 1 

Women's shelters

The following shelters are available 24/7 to provide assistance and a place to stay:

In Allegheny County

McKeesport Center for Victims Women’s Place Shelter
(412) 678-4616

Mon-Yough area Women’s Place Hotline
(412) 678-4616

North Hills Crisis Center North Hotline
(412) 364-5556

Pittsburgh Women’s Center and Shelter of Greater Allegheny
(412) 687-8005

Pittsburgh Women Against Abusive Relationships
(412) 818-3225

Alle Kiski Area
Hope Center Hotline
(888) 299-4673

Beaver County
Women’s Center of Beaver County Hotline
(724) 775-0131

Indiana County
Alice Paul House
(724) 349-4444

Washington and Greene Counties
Women’s Shelter Hotline
(724) 223-9190

Contact us

If you need to get in touch with AHN women’s health services, call (412) DOCTORS (412) 362-8677 or request an appointment.