Survivors News and Reviews

In the News

We can’t rehabilitate while actively harming the mental health of prisoners
ByMikeM July 23, 2025July 23, 2025 Reading Time: 2 minutes

Being in prison is a traumatic experience in and of itself. Experiencing violence, witnessing death, sexual assault, etc., are additional traumas. We know for a fact that the higher the number of traumatic events that occur in our lives, the higher the rates of mental health issues. Yet, when it comes to prisoners, we seem not to care. We joke about violence and sexual assault in prison. We do nothing to combat corruption and violence among people who work in prisons, and we cut programs aimed at helping people adjust once outside of prison.

Read More We can’t rehabilitate while actively harming the mental health of prisoners
In the News

The Other Mental Health Crisis – Older Men
ByMikeM July 18, 2025July 18, 2025 Reading Time: 2 minutes

I don’t think we are on a path to create that world. I think a world where human beings are valued based on how much money they make and how “strong” they are does not even care if older men are lost. They feel like a burden because society treats them like one. How much could they contribute to our community if we didn’t think that way? If we had a community that involved them instead of isolating them, and a healthcare system that didn’t cause people to go bankrupt because they grew old and became sick, perhaps we’d find out.

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Sharing – Why Lifelong Learning Feeds the Soul
ByMikeM July 16, 2025July 16, 2025 Reading Time: 1 minute

That description of restlessness is familiar to me. That’s how I feel when I’m not engaged in learning something. That’s why I remain curious about the things I care about and why I share so much here and elsewhere online. It’s a motivation for me to continue learning, and that, in turn, helps my mental health.

It’s self-care for me.

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Sharing – The impact of non-recent child sexual abuse on the wider family
ByMikeM July 12, 2025July 12, 2025 Reading Time: 2 minutes

As I’ve mentioned before, I didn’t wait until my 40s or 50s to tell someone about my abuse, and my family found out about it in my 20s, primarily due to my roommate having to answer their questions about my mental health breakdown. I didn’t get to choose whether my parents found out, but I’m also thankful that he went ahead and had that difficult conversation with them. I needed them to know what happened so that they could be part of my life while I tried to heal my mental health.

On the other hand, I would be lying if I said everything in the family was great after that. It’s complicated and occasionally messy.

Read More Sharing – The impact of non-recent child sexual abuse on the wider family
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Sharing – The Second Betrayal: The Hidden Factor That Makes Childhood Trauma So Devastating
ByMikeM July 11, 2025July 10, 2025 Reading Time: 2 minutes

It’s no wonder that I felt alone. I was alone. I was also lucky in finding someone else who was willing to tell their secret in my 20s. Most survivors remain alone with their trauma for decades. Even when they go about their lives, marry, have families, etc., they live alone in their trauma. Others tried to tell someone and weren’t believed, which is a level of being alone that I cannot imagine.

Read More Sharing – The Second Betrayal: The Hidden Factor That Makes Childhood Trauma So Devastating
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Sharing – Simple social rituals like eye contact and small talk are psychologically powerful
ByMikeM July 4, 2025July 4, 2025 Reading Time: 1 minute

If you’re like me and don’t want to be open to lengthy conversations with strangers, this article is good news. Even small connections, a smile, a nod, or a pleasant “hello,” have mental health benefits.

It might also remind us of the humanity of the people around us. There are worse things.

Read More Sharing – Simple social rituals like eye contact and small talk are psychologically powerful