A domestic violence survivor is developing a smartphone app to teach family and friends how to talk to people like her.
The app introduces users to "Hannah", a victim of family violence, through multiple choice questions and answers.
"You have three options to respond. Whatever you say will affect what she says next," Adelaide-based developer and survivor Zoe* told AAP.
"You earn her trust by talking to her and being there when she needs you."
The conversations are based on what Zoe wished people had said, and didn't say, before she fled her sexually abusive husband almost two years ago.
"It's very much my own story. There are changes, little changes. I'm actually going to use some chat logs from my friends," she said.
"A lot of people think that if a woman is in a violent relationship, she can leave easily if she wants to.
"They didn't understand that if I left, I'd be in more danger. A lot of his threats were based around me leaving."
The SA Domestic Violence Gateway Service said family and friends of abuse victims were often desperate to do or say something.
"I had a phone call the other day from a grandmother who is absolutely beside herself, along with the rest of her family, about her young grandchild who is in an incredibly abusive relationship," executive officer Gillian Cordell said.
"She [the grandmother] and her family don't know how to help her. They're powerless. It's an incredibly awful situation for anyone to be in."
Ms Cordell also said people failed to realise that their seemingly logical advice was unhelpful.
"It's about learning to be supportive, learning to be good listeners. You can't just go barrelling in," she said.
Zoe plans to launch her app towards the end of the year.
* The woman's name has been changed to protect her identity.
* National domestic violence helpline: 1800 737 732 or 1800RESPECT. In an emergency, call triple-zero.
