Resources
As a writer, I am deeply committed to artistic expression about the effects of sexual abuse and trauma, especially among and for men, who still feel a great stigma about even discussing their experiences. This is starting to change, and there is now a greater acceptance of men speaking up about abuse. However, this is still a deeply underserved group, whose voice is often missing from conversations in the culture around sexual assault and abuse, trauma, power and powerlessness, and a desire for healing.
In 2018, when I first started truly grappling with the sexual abuse I experienced at the hands of my older brother, I did not know that at least 1 in 6 men are sexually assaulted or abused before they turn 18. I did not have a clear sense of where to start, how to get help or what resources I should use to heal. These are some of the resources I have found that have been helpful to me. There are a wealth of organizations, books, videos, podcasts, artists, therapists and other resources that can help you in your journey. Just know that you are not alone.
—Phil
Find out more about 1in6.org and how it can help male survivors.
CHILD USA is the leading national nonprofit think tank working to end child abuse and neglect in the United States. CHILD USA pairs the best social science research with the most sophisticated legal analysis to determine the most effective public policies to end child abuse and neglect.
Providing empowering action steps and written specifically for survivors of male sexual abuse as well as their spouses, partners, and loved ones, Beyond Betrayal is based on Richard Gartner’s decades of experience as a psychologist, psychoanalyst, and advocate for sexually abused men. Covering both male and female abuse of boys and young men, Dr. Gartner explores the different types of abuse, from sexual abuse with and without touch to covert abuse to trauma, revealing the profound impact of sexual betrayal by such caretakers as clergy, family, teachers, babysitters, and health professionals. Gartner explains how as a child one trusts out of necessity—and how the betrayal of that trust ravages one's self-concept as a man while also wreaking havoc on one's relationships.
RAINN stands with survivors of sexual violence and has helped bring perpetrators to justice. Their hotline is confidential and available 24/7. You are not alone.
A long overdue book by a psychologist who has extensive clinical experience treating male victims of child sexual abuse, it explodes the myth that sexual abuse of male children is rare, or that the consequences are less serious than for girls. Hunter examines the physical and emotional impact of abuse on its victims and the factors affecting recovery. With personal case histories of victims and their families, this is a powerfully written and meticulously researched book that is a landmark in the field of child sexual abuse literature.
Founded in 2010, Awakenings is an organization dedicated to raising funds and awareness for rape and sexual abuse survivors who wish to pursue art for the purpose of self-expression and healing. The nonprofit’s Chicago-based art gallery is a special place that is used to showcase the stories of survival that artists share with the organizations’s community of allies. Awakenings’ goal is to help survivors find a sense of empowerment and peace through artistic expression, while also encouraging a candid conversation with the public about the cultural taboos surrounding rape and sexual abuse.
Stop It Now!
Stop It Now! is an organization that seeks to have the sexual abuse of children recognized as a preventable public health problem and to help adults take responsibility to prevent and stop sexual abuse of children.
Visit Stop It Now for more resources for survivors. It’s never too late to begin the process of recovery.
HelpingSurvivors.org
Helping Survivors is an organization whose mission is to assist anyone who has been victimized by sexual assault or abuse. It offers information and resources to assist survivors and their families,
Visit Helping Survivors for more resources for survivors.