Survivors News and Reviews

In the News

Get Some Help with a Free Mind Plan
ByMikeM October 14, 2021October 13, 2021 Reading Time: 1 minute

It’s being offered by the NHS in the UK. Basically, the idea is simple, answer five quick questions about how you’re sleeping, stress, anxiety, etc. and they’ll put together some resources that might help.

Of course, they will also suggest getting some professional help, and more formal resources and those kinds of suggestions should not be taken lightly, but I took the survey, and the things they offered me were things like plans to physically move more, sleep aids, and a mental health app that might help with some of my issues.

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Reviews

Reviews Elsewhere – Therapy Toolkit: Sixty Cards for Self-Exploration
ByMikeM October 12, 2021October 11, 2021 Reading Time: 1 minute

“Though not a replacement to therapy, Therapy Toolkit is a gentle primer for or complement to therapy. A comprehensive booklet that includes an introduction to the therapeutic process, tips on using the deck, and a list of resources for further guidance accompanies the deck.”

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In the News

French Catholic Church News Reminds Us Again – Boys Get Sexually Abused
ByMikeM October 11, 2021October 10, 2021 Reading Time: 2 minutes

Actually, I think it usually takes something like this, or the scandal in the Boy Scouts, etc, to remind people that oh yeah, sometimes it’s boys who are targeted en masse for sexual abuse. I suspect we don’t often think about it because, as it turns out, many men don’t feel like they can talk about having been abused.

That’s why it was a bit heartbreaking to read Phil Goldstein’s recent opinion piece:

French Catholic Church abuse report highlights the special toll faced by boys

As Phil points out, for a variety of reasons, male survivors tend not to talk about being an abuse victim, and the numbers back that up.

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Links

Sharing – 5 Crucial Mental Health Tips for Bloggers
ByMikeM October 9, 2021October 9, 2021 Reading Time: 3 minutes

Whenever anyone asks me about blogging, especially about child abuse and mental health, I tell them that they need to decide two things, and always stick to them.

1. Decide what you will share about your own story, and what is off the table. Don’t share so much of yourself that you wind up becoming overwhelmed and find yourself dealing with the fallout. Remember, once you share it, you no longer control how other people respond. If you’re not ready for that, there’s no shame in it. Just know before you start.

2. The second one, is to decide what you’re willing and able, to give to your readers. This is the hardest one, as the article below mentions:

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Links

Sharing – What Is the Best Way to Deliver a Thank-You?
ByMikeM October 8, 2021October 8, 2021 Reading Time: 1 minute

I’d rephrase their language a bit. Instead of waiting for the “best” time to say thank you in the best way, it’s far more important to just say it however you can. I would much rather get a quick text expressing gratitude than potentially not get anything because so much time has passed.

I don’t think I’m alone in that.

So worry less about “how”, and just make sure that you actually say thank you!

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In the News

Looking at Insurance Data to Identify What Works to Prevent Abuse in an Organization
ByMikeM October 7, 2021October 6, 2021 Reading Time: 2 minutes

This makes sense. Even something as common and necessary as background checks are only going to catch people who’ve already been caught before. It’s a good thing to do, but it leaves that gap. What doesn’t leave a gap is having policies and procedures in place that prevent anyone from being able to abuse kids when working with your organization. If being alone with a child is simply not acceptable for anyone, that closes those gaps.

As the article goes on, that means rules like not giving kids gifts, not driving them home, etc. That’s what works, and it has to just be the culture in the organization, no questions asked. Create that culture, and you’re making the best effort to protect kids that you can make.

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