Domestic abuse shelters for men help spotlight male victims, by Jamie Stengle.

A Texas group has opened what’s believed to be only the second shelter in the U.S. exclusively for men who are victims of domestic violence, as advocates say more men are seeking help amid changing views about male victims. …

The number of male victims calling the National Domestic Abuse Hotline and its youth-focused project — loveisrespect — has been growing. Last year, about 12,000 male victims called — about 9 percent of victims who identified their gender. That’s about double the about 5,800 male victim callers from 2010, said hotline spokeswoman Cameka Crawford.

“We believe that there are likely many more men who may not report or seek help for a number of reasons,” she said.

Flink said her organization has sheltered men abused by male partners, female partners or relatives. Some men bring their children. …

Hines said some men don’t even realize they’re being abused until they read pamphlets — mostly geared toward women — listing abuse signs. “If you are the man, that’s a very difficult process to figure out,” she said. …

In the U.S., about 31 percent of men and 37 percent of women have experienced sexual violence, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

See also Rate of Domestic Violence Highest in Lesbian Relationships and Domestic violence: data shows women are not the only victims.