Happy International Men’s Day!

Today is an important opportunity to focus on the needs of male survivors of sexual violence. Researchers have found that at least 1 in 6 men have experienced sexual abuse or assault, whether in childhood or as adults.

We believe that a feminist approach to sexual violence needs to consider all survivors, and to look at the ways that a patriarchal society can be damaging to all of us.

We are aware that men affected by sexual abuse or assault are less likely to reach out, or report to the police. We know that there are differing kinds of stigma that survivors of different genders experience, and that this stigma can be very silencing, and tied up with gendered expectations that can feel very stifling and isolating. We know that men in minority communities face intersectional pressures that can make reporting even harder.

We provide a number of services for men and boys, and can help you refer yourself to other organisations for further support.

We are delighted that our weekly Helpline is now open to male survivors and supporters, and our Advocacy service is available to survivors of all ages and genders. We also have a Trans, Non-binary and Intersex peer support group that trans men can access.

We hope you will feel safe and comfortable to get in touch with us if you would like to talk things over, and to hear about the support available for you. We are fortunate in Sussex to also have Mankind, a service specifically for male survivors, and you can find a list of other available support here.