Duncan Craig. (Audio) Breaking the silence: Supporting male victims of sexual abuse. 'We are survivors'

Duncan Craig is the founder and CEO of We Are Survivors. Here he discusses the work of his charity in supporting male survivors of sexual abuse and exploitation. He shares his personal journey of realizing his own survivor status and the lack of support available for male victims. Duncan highlights the barriers faced by male survivors in seeking help, including societal homophobia and the lack of visibility and representation. He also discusses the services provided by We Are Survivors, the demographic data of their clients, and the need for multiple attempts at seeking help. Duncan reflects on the case of Reynhard Sinaga and the limited media coverage of his crimes. Finally, he discusses the importance of storytelling and maintaining psychological health in challenging work. In this conversation, Duncan emphasizes the need for regular supervision and the role it plays in supporting the staff. He also highlights the organization's values of transparency, integrity, understanding, and responsiveness. He talks about creating a supportive environment for the staff, including providing spaces for breaks and encouraging laughter. Finally, Duncan shares his personal coping strategies, such as creating boundaries between work and personal life and watching light-hearted TV content.

 

Main points;

• Male survivors of sexual abuse and exploitation face unique barriers in seeking help, including societal homophobia and the lack of visibility and representation.
• Services for male survivors should provide a range of options, including anonymous online support, face-to-face counseling, and specialized programs for specific populations such as prisoners.
• There is a need for greater awareness and understanding of male vulnerability and the experiences of male survivors in order to provide effective support and prevention strategies.
• Media coverage and public discourse often overlook or downplay the experiences of male survivors, perpetuating harmful stereotypes and hindering progress in addressing the issue.
• Maintaining psychological health in challenging work requires self-care strategies, such as storytelling, building rapport with clients, and recognizing the importance of personal boundaries. Regular clinical supervision is crucial for supporting staff in organizations working with survivors of sexual abuse.
• Transparency, integrity, understanding, and responsiveness are important values to uphold in such organizations.
• Creating a supportive environment includes providing spaces for breaks and encouraging laughter.
• Personal coping strategies, such as setting boundaries and engaging in light-hearted activities, are essential for self-care.