The Wiltshire charity is encouraging people to speak out about stalking

FearFree says more needs to be done to highlight the impact of stalking.

A domestic abuse charity in Wiltshire has told us about the devastating impact stalking has on people’s lives.

For many victims, the impact can last a lifetime.

Escalation is a pattern of repeated behavior that causes a person to feel scared, nervous, or in danger. The behavior may include unwanted contact by phone, social media or email, or unwanted visits to your work or home address or other places you regularly frequent.

However, victims may struggle to seek support as stalking is often trivialized and for some a source of embarrassment.

FearFree CEO Claire Marshall said: “People tend to joke about stalking, but it can be terrifying for the victim and escalate.”

After the success of the recent TV series “Baby Reindeer” – which told the story of a man stalked by an elderly woman – more people are starting to talk about stalking, and some victims feel empowered to tell their own stories.

Claire Marshall, said: “It is vitally important that difficult subjects are brought to the fore and brought into the public consciousness so that more people feel comfortable talking about their own experiences.

“Anything that brings difficult subjects into the public domain that people can relate to and debate is really important. If more people come forward and seek help for what they’re dealing with, then that’s absolutely vital.”

The series also shed light on the male victims of stalking. FearFree say men often struggle to seek help and feel embarrassed about the situation.

Claire Marshall, said: “I think it’s definitely more difficult for men to come forward, maybe it’s a societal notion that men should be able to handle it. One source is the increased awareness of what stalking is, whether it’s a man or a woman. for good.”

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