A Bermudian social worker is launching a book about domestic violence, abuse and sexual assault to raise awareness and help tackle the island’s social problems.

Veronica Outerbridge, a pastor who runs her own counselling firm, will be unveiling Straight Up Truth Talk at a special reception at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute this evening.

“It’s about domestic violence,” Ms Outerbridge, who also specialises in substance abuse counselling, told The Royal Gazette. “It deals with the straight up truth.

“I’m a social worker by profession. I’ve seen it. I’ve been at the receiving end of women who have been physically, verbally and emotionally abused.”

She added that domestic abuse on the island is a “big problem”, especially the cases that go unreported.

“The Domestic Violence Protection Orders in the courts tell us that we have a problem,” she said. “These things are happening all around us.

“We have to deal with it and we have to deal with it straight up. The elephant has to be dissected. It’s been in the living room way too long.”

According to Ms Outerbridge, the book introduces the different types of abuse, explores why women stay in abusive relationships and how symptoms of abuse can be recognised. It also deals with abuse in the church and offers advice to fathers whose daughters are being abused. Furthermore, it highlights the roles of low self-esteem, guilt and shame in keeping women trapped in abusive relationships and the effects domestic abuse and sexual abuse has on children. Ms Outerbridge, who sits on the Family Court, stressed that domestic abuse does not happen in isolation and has much wider reaching implications than just affecting the victim.

“A child that hears parents fighting will often be in their room with the cover over their head and their ears blocked because they don’t know what to do.

“They feel in a position of helplessness. That’s trauma. When I see an abused mother and her children, it tears me because this is not just a woman in trouble, but a family.

“If the nurturer is in trouble, the family is in trouble, the community is in trouble. How can a woman effectively raise her children if her life is always in turmoil?”

Referencing the island’s gang culture and instances of violent crime, she said: “We see the spillover. These are symptoms, but the root cause is what we need to get to.”

She also advocates for the law to be changed so victims of abuse cannot decide not to press charges and she wants to see more effort made to ensure that perpetrators can only be released from prison after completing rehabilitation programmes successfully.

Ms Outerbridge was inspired to write the book after watching a staged infomercial on American television that showed celebrities using excuses about why they abuse women.

She realised she had heard those same excuses time and time again. She started writing to give victims the confidence to escape abusive situations and to let them know help is available.

And while the book is particularly addressed at women suffering abuse, it is also aimed at their loved ones, employers, pastors and other members of the community.

Ms Outerbridge has invited industry professionals to the launch today, which coincides with Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

She added that she was disappointed that little attention had been paid to the cause by politicians, adding: “There is no excuse. Somebody should have said something.

“There has to be a heightened awareness that this is an issue. We have to draw the line as women that it will not be tolerated.”

The 92-page book will cost $25 and Ms Outerbridge is planning on donating part of the proceeds to a local charity that deals with domestic violence.

She will also be holding a book signing at Brown & Co from noon to 3pm on Saturday.