Expert: Azure - 5/13/2010

Question
A very close friend just told me that his home life is awful. His father abuses both him and his mother, physical and verbal. He also has two brothers who are of the same mold. He is gay (out of the closet) and has struggled his whole life with this. He is 24 now. He wants to get out but he is afraid to leave his mom. What can I do to help him? Are there options for his mom, who is even more afraid than him to leave. He is ready to get out and has been working hard to make money to move out, but is still very scared and can't live his life. Should he leave and risk leaving his mom to be even worse abused than she is now?
Thank you for any advice you can give
- a friend

Answer
he needs to convince her to get out as well; they need to work together to make an exit strategy; social service dept in your city/town can help, as well as seeking legal assistance; however, if the mother refuses to leave, not alot you can do..physical abuse can/should be reported to authorities..