Transcript Faces Series

Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse Trust
SSPA Conference September 2012
“Improving Outcomes for Children & Whanau”
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904 ColomboStreet. Our New Temporary Place
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PO Box 22-363
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Christchurch 81420
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Phone: +64 (03) 377 6747, 027 353 3854
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[email protected]
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http://www.survivor.org.nz
Introduction
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MSSAT, History.
My personal views on THE GREEN PAPER.
What we do and why, where we want to go
Case studies with our guys.
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.
My experience's of working with male
survivors, advocate and support.
• SYSTEMS………………..
• Questions. Available after.
Can of Worms Scotland
Scotland,
A survivor of sexual abuse
• My mother said
• “you shouldn’t live in the past”
•“I don’t, the past lives in me”
Mike Lew, M.Ed.
“Victims No Longer” 1988
Belief
“that a logical perspective on male survivor
issues is the feminist view of sexual child
abuse: seeing it in terms of differential
power in a patriarchal system that views
children as property
How many boys are sexually
abused? New York 2010
•Australia
•USA
•Canada
1 in 6 boys
1 in 6 boys
1 in 4 boys
•New Zealand 1 in 8 boys
University of Otago, 2012
• Dr Tess Patterson
• Clinical Psychologist, PhD
• Department of Psychological
Medicine.
• “Risk, resiliency and treatment factors
in childhood sexual abuse”.
Ian Bennett Founder
MSSAT, 1961-2002
•Support Group
1991
•Monthly Meetings
•Registered
Charitable Trust
1997
•10th Anniversary
2007 International
Speakers Dr
Werner Tschan,
Mike Lew & Steve
Bevan
MSSAT NEW ZEALAND
• CHRISTCHURCH
• AUCKLAND
• WAIKATO
Ken Clearwater
David Passell
Mike Holloway
• Whangrei
David Passell *
• Wellington
Richard Brewer *
• Dunedin
David Knox *
• Timaru
Colin Elliott *
• Nelson, Blenheim In Progress *
TaskForce for Action on
Sexual Violence 2007-09
• TOAH-NNEST (Te Ohaaki a Hine -National Network Ending
Sexual Violence Together)
• STOCK TAKE ON SEXUAL ABUSE SERVICES
• Report to Government from Taskforce…….. Page 88
• STRUGGLE TO PROVIDE SPECIALIST SERVICES
• Throughout the history of this sector, at least until the 1990’s
when a small percentage of males became involved in this
work………………….
• SPECIALIST SUPPORT FOR MALE SURVIVORS
• As the sexual abuse of males began to be acknowledged in
the 1990’s, the only specialist male survivor support agency
MSSAT that has continued until today began in Christchurch.
MSSAT
• MISSION STATEMENT
To support male survivors recovering from sexual
abuse.
VISION
For male survivors to empower their own lives through
education, counselling and support groups.
VALUES
The needs of the survivor are paramount.
We are committed to providing high quality and
confidential service to our clients.
Who are our survivors?
• White Power, Black Power, Mongrel Mob,
Teachers, Police, Prison Guards, Prisoners,
Lawyers, Bikies, Social Workers, TransGender, Counsellors, Brickies, Truckies,
Streeties, Doctors, Nurses, Psychiatrists,
Butchers, Bakers, Candlestick Makers.
• African-Americans, Jews, Muslims, Australian
Aborigines, North American and Canadian
Indians,
What do we offer?
• One on one peer support
• Peer Support Group, AWESOME
• Access to ACC approved Counsellors
• Parent Support Group
• Community Support Worker (Prison)
• Information
• Life skills and Weekend Retreats
ACC Assessors (Switzerland)
• The various reports you have sent me
document a systematic problem: the
general lack of understanding the
impact of sexual abuse on later life
functioning, psychiatric symptoms and
impairment in social functioning.
• ………a result that is clearly in the
interest of these agencies (ACC)………
ACC continued (UK)
• I understand your frustration with
psychiatrists after reading these
reports. On a professional level I felt
depressed and on a personal level
angry at the ignorance.
• The use of the current diagnostic
system is not appropriate as it is not up
to date with the latest knowledge
about the impact of trauma.
Conferences and
workshops re male
victims of childhood
sexual abuse
2003 Minneapolis USA
2004 Kettlewell, England
Galway, Ireland
2005 Vancouver , Canada
2006 Urchfont, England
2007 Perth, Australia
New York City, USA
2009 Melbourne, Aussie
2010 New York City, USA
Belfast, Ireland
2011 Sherwood Forest UK
Wales
Norway
2012 New York
Clergy Abuse
•John Jay College of
Criminal Justice New York
City 2007.
•80% of victims of clergy
abuse are MALES………….
Prison Statistics
• The SAVI Report cites findings from
informal research conducted with
prison and probation officers working
with male offenders (non-sexual
offences) which suggests that up to
60% of prisoners have experienced
sexual violence or sexual abuse at
some point in their lives.
Prison Inmates
• Another Australian study of 27
correctional centres in NSW found that
65 per cent of male and female
prisoners were victims of child sexual
and physical assault. (Senate Committee Report,
Australia 2004 p.168).
DSAC (Doctors for Sexual Abuse Care)
•Conference held Auckland
in 1997
•New Zealand’s Untold Story:
Male Victims of Childhood
Sexual Abuse
Professional Training (DSAC 1997)
• Training should be provided for staff in:
• Mental health settings
• Sexual health clinics
• Drug and alcohol services
• Department of Corrections
Concerning the identification and treatment of male sexual
abuse
DSAC (1997)
•62% of males in psychiatric
care were sexually abused
as children
•Only 4% had disclosed
abuse before being asked.
90% of male children
(DSAC 1997)
who attempt suicide by the age of 14 have a
history of
Sexual Abuse
St John of God 19 June
2002
Senate Inquiry Australia
August 2004
Male violence?
• The men especially have largely been
unable to address the issues relating to
their anger and this is often displayed
in their relationships. Hence a high
incidence of domestic violence. 153
• ..but when you think about it dad was
brought up in a home to and terrible
things must have happened to him for
the things that he did to us. 152
Tamworth Boys Homes
Australia
•“Killers linked to notorious boy’s
home.”
•The northern New South Wales
institution for boys has been
linked to more than 35 violent
deaths across Australia.
Degrading torture
• Keith Kelly, 67, was 16 when he
was transferred to Tamworth in
1961. “When you got to Tamworth
you were beaten as soon as you
got in the door. You were starved,
you were tortured and it was
degrading.”
Former Inmates
• ..include James Finch, jailed for life for
the murders of 15 people…
• Kevin Grump, jailed for life over the
murder of Ian Lamb….
• Alleged Sydney crime lord George
Freeman also attended Tamworth
which he described as the “ultimate
finishing school for crims.”
Male survivor in care
• In the ‘outside world’ I found myself
completely at a loss.
• After that it was institutions right
through my life, including three jail
sentences before I had reached 21..
Even being in Pentridge at the age of
seventeen was bad but no where as
bad as Bayswater….. Page 164
Lack of treatment
•I have now tried to come to
terms with my life and still have
trouble doing so. I constantly
end up having instances
where I suffer from flashbacks. I
just can’t get any real
treatment in prison…. Page 164
Green Paper
•My personal view. Hope I’m
wrong.
•Is this about our children or is it
political?
•Wanting to hear from the
sector.
•Alcohol reform Bill !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
An apology!
• The Committee was repeatedly told
that for many care leavers an
acknowledgement of past wrongs
would facilitate a degree of emotional
and psychological healing and
confirm that their experiences in care
are at last ‘believed’ and recognised.
• Page 171
Paula Bennett MP
•Letter received 16 March 2009
•I am not sure how an inquiry
into institutional care of
children in New Zealand’s past
might help those who have
been past victims.
1967 Bishopdale Shopping Centre
The Press (30th July 1965 pp8)
What do we need? Bob Belfour
• We need to acknowledge the needs
of the male victim/survivors.
• Recognise the needs of specialist male
services as male victim/survivors
experience different issues to females.
• Identify gaps in service provision and
research via independent evaluation.
Continued
• Reinforce current best practice in
meeting male victim/survivor needs in
both current and future service
provision.
• Involve male victim/survivors directly in
the development of the above.
• Acknowledge their human rights to
shape the services which meet their
recovery resolution objectives
THANK YOU
• THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AND
HOPEFULLY YOU CAN LEAVE WITH THE
UNDERSTANDING THAT REGARDLESS OF
GENDER WHEN YOU ARE SEXUALLY
ABUSED IN CHILDHOOD IT IS HORRIFIC.
A MALE SURVIVOR FEELS THE PAIN,
SHAME AND GUILT JUST AS A FEMALE
AND ALL NEED THE RIGHT SUPPORT
AND COMPASSION.