www.rte.ie/news - Updated: 11:59, Monday, 12 September 2011

A new report into domestic abuse has shown a sharp rise in the number of male victims coming forward and seeking help.

A new report has shown a sharp rise in the number of male victims of domestic abuse coming forward and seeking help.

AMEN, the charity which was set up to help men abused in their own homes, said they had a 28% increase in the number of men contacting them for help and advice arising from abuse by their wives, partners or girlfriends.

In its annual report for 2010 published today, the Navan-based charity said 4,683 people contacted them, usually by phone, last year as compared to 3,644 in 2009.

January and October are the busiest months with around six hundred contacts being made to AMEN during both of those months.

38% of those who came forward said they were suffering psychological abuse, while 36.5% said they suffered regular verbal abuse.

One quarter of men said they were suffering physical abuse while 0.5% said they were sexually abused by their wife or partner.

However, AMEN point out that most victims suffer more than one form of abuse.

Nearly all contacts were made initially through the helpline on 046 9023718, which operates from 9am-5pm weekdays.

There is also an emergency helpline which operates until 9pm on weekdays and at weekends.

However, the annual report also points out that there were 1,378 unanswered calls made to them last year as they were made after hours and the charity cannot afford a 24-hour helpline.