“Those who are familiar with men’s mental health will know that the impact of being falsely accused of abuse, especially sexual abuse, can be overwhelming and catastrophic for the accused and their families. (If you have been falsely accused, see the helplines at the end of this article).
How common are false accusations? Estimates vary quite a bit, but even if you think false accusations aren’t that common and therefore not a serious problem, for those individuals who are falsely accused the effect is hugely significant. A survey by YouGov for DAVIA of over 5,000 people, published in August 2025, found that men are roughly twice as likely as women to be falsely accused of abuse, including “domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, or other forms of abuse”. The survey found false accusation rates of 6% of men in the UK, 11% in the US, 16% in Argentina, and 18% in Australia.”