When David left hospital after being stabbed in the chest by his partner Judy, he said he was lucky it wasn't too deep and that it could have been a lot worse. He says that over the years arguments gradually escalated, and she has hit and slapped him several times. He's been walking on eggshells in case he said or did the wrong thing. David says Judy has a lot of past stress from her childhood which is maybe why she behaves like that. Together they have a three-year-old boy whom David looks after full time. He wants to know what his options are.

When we think of domestic violence we usually think of female victims and male perpetrators – and that does reflect the majority of cases. The reality, though, is that in recent years more men like David are coming forward as victims of domestic violence and abuse. The Men's Advice Line, a helpline for male victims in heterosexual or same-sex relationships has been supporting men since January 2007, with funding from the Home Office and the Scottish government.

David called the helpline soon after leaving hospital; the adviser he spoke to focused on his safety. After listening to his story and providing emotional support, David was given the details of a legal advice centre and information about what might happen if he chose to press charges against Judy.

Services like this are approached by increasing numbers of male victims each year, but a lot of men say they are embarrassed to talk about what has been happening; that they should be able to cope because they are men; and that people will laugh at them if they disclose that their partner hits, slaps, punches, swears, belittles or abuses them in any other way. They say they will not be believed, that the police will not take them seriously, or that they don't want to press charges against their partner.

The perpetrators, whether female or male, are very successful in convincing victims that no one will take them seriously, or even that they deserve the abuse. In that respect, working with male victims is not very different to working with female victims: making it clear they are not to blame, reminding them that they have the right to a life free of violence and abuse, highlighting the effects of domestic violence on children, encouraging them to report incidents, and providing practical advice and emotional support.

Many male victims need legal advice; harder to get these days if you can't afford it privately as fewer people qualify for Legal Aid. Other men are unable to find suitable housing that would allow them to leave an abusive relationship because their local authority will not prioritise them.

Interestingly, despite the fact there are now fewer specialist domestic violence services for female victims as a result of spending cuts, there are actually more services supporting male victims of domestic violence than ever before, including helplines, male independent domestic violence advocates and outreach workers. It may not be enough – for either female or male victims of domestic violence – but some help is available. What's important is to encourage men like David who are experiencing domestic violence to talk to someone about it.

• You can call the Men's Advice Line on 0808 801 0327

• Names have been changed to protect the identities of those involved