When we hear about domestic violence in our community, the first question is often, “Why doesn’t she just leave?” A new episode of Following Leads: The Podcast tackles that question head-on with Jessica Woolbright, a licensed clinical social worker and Executive Director of Saint Martha’s, an organization that supports women and children impacted by abuse. Her answer might surprise you: leaving is statistically the most dangerous time for a victim.
The conversation explores what most of us never see. Abuse doesn’t usually announce itself. It hides behind closed doors, built on a system of isolation, control, and often children used as leverage. That’s what makes “just leave” so complicated. There’s rarely a clear path out, and the people causing harm work hard to keep it that way.
The episode also offers something practical: how friends, family, and neighbors can intervene safely. The short version? Stay connected, listen without judgment, and let people know support exists. Here on the Suncoast, that kind of community response can matter more than any advice. What would you want a friend to do if you were in that situation?
