Domestic violence is becoming recognised as a serious public health issue. Country studies have shown that between 16 and 40 per cent of women in the Asia and Pacific region had suffered violence by their intimate family members. The medical profession must be sensitised to provide special support services to the victims of this violence who are predominantly women and children. One initiative in this regard was a collaboration between the Mumbai Municipal Corporation and the Centre for Enquiry Into Health and Allied Themes to set up Dilaasa, a crisis centre for women, in the municipality-run Bhabha Hospital, Bandra. Also, a recently published study has documented the various approaches of mental health professionals and support groups providing refuge to the victims of domestic violence in India.