The stark messages will build up over the week

Messages including "You're useless", "You look a state" and "You're a waste of space" will be seen in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee.

The week-long campaign will end with a warning that too many women face psychological abuse every day.

It aims to drive home the effects of persistent emotional abuse.

For years I thought I was weak, worthless, stupid and ugly but I was none of these Mary Abuse victim

A radio advert will also give a snapshot of how it might feel to be at the end of a stream of abusive language.

Those who experience domestic abuse are often constantly at the receiving end of verbal abuse and controlling behaviour by their partner, humiliated, undermined, denied access to money or allowed to socialise.

Mary, from the west of Scotland, survived psychological abuse from a previous partner and warned that it can take a long time to recover from this type of mental cruelty.

The posters form part of a wider focus on psychological abuse

She said: "For years I thought I was weak, worthless, stupid and ugly but I was none of these.

"I was psychologically abused by the man I loved.

"But I've now recovered from that relationship and I've got my self-esteem back and moved on with my life."

More than 20,000 calls were made to the Scottish Domestic Abuse Helpline last year, many of which related to issues of psychological, emotional or mental abuse.

Many women don't realise that what they are actually experiencing is domestic abuse Liz Kelly Scottish Domestic Abuse Helpline

Liz Kelly, training co-ordinator at the helpline, said, "We receive many calls at the helpline relating to incidents of psychological or mental abuse and these have increased since the new advertising campaign highlighted the issue last year.

"Many women don't realise that what they are actually experiencing is domestic abuse, so we talk through their experiences with them and help them understand their partner's controlling behaviour."

Ms Kelly said the calls showed that abuse transcends class, religion, geographical region and age.

She said the helpline offered support as well as other ways to get help, from contact with a local women's aid group or the police, to finding refuge accommodation, making GP appointments and getting good legal advice.