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Violence, Abuse and Mental Health Network @vamhn.bsky.social · Jun 19

Thank you to everyone who joined our #VAMHNWebinar yesterday! You can find the recording and additional resources on our webiste: www.vamhn.co.uk/webinars.html

Webinars

Have a look to see some of the webinars we have run so far. Click below to access the recordings, resources and more from each webinar. To stay notified as to when we are running our webinars you...

www.vamhn.co.uk

Violence, Abuse and Mental Health Network @vamhn.bsky.social · Jun 19

✅Key takeaways:
Mental health evidence always relevant
‘Freeze’ response as proof
Mental health unreliable
Mental health as ‘prism’
#VAMHNwebinar #SexualViolence #MentalHealth #Traums #Justice

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Violence, Abuse and Mental Health Network @vamhn.bsky.social · Jun 19

📘 Legal policy is slowly evolving. Newer guidance acknowledges how trauma affects memory and calls for more supportive courtroom practices (e.g., allowing breaks). But this is not always reflected in legal culture or decision-making.
#SurvivorSupport #LegalReform

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Violence, Abuse and Mental Health Network @vamhn.bsky.social · Jun 19

💬 Emma highlights the contradiction:
Mental health can be used to explain why survivors react as they do—but can just as easily be weaponised to discredit them. This double standard leads to inconsistent and often unjust outcomes.
#VAMHNWebinar #TraumaInformedJustice

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Violence, Abuse and Mental Health Network @vamhn.bsky.social · Jun 19

A third case involved a survivor with a complex psychiatric diagnosis. This diagnosis was used to characterise her behaviour as manipulative and distorted, casting doubt on her entire testimony.
Mental health became a tool of discreditation.
#MentalHealthStigma #SexualViolence

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Violence, Abuse and Mental Health Network @vamhn.bsky.social · Jun 19

In another trial, the survivor’s mental health history and self-doubt were used to suggest she fabricated her experience. Instead of recognising her uncertainty as trauma-related, it was framed as deceit—raising concerns about credibility judgments.
#VictimBlaming #LegalBias

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Violence, Abuse and Mental Health Network @vamhn.bsky.social · Jun 19

A survivor’s mental health diagnosis was used to justify a "freeze" response during an assault. While this was accepted as evidence of trauma, it reinforced a narrow view of what “real” victimhood looks like—requiring visible passivity to be believed.

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Violence, Abuse and Mental Health Network @vamhn.bsky.social · Jun 19

🔍This talk focused on:
1. Always relevant
2. ‘Successful’ trauma evidence
3. ‘Abnormal’ psychology
4. Mental health and memory
#VAMHNWebinar #Trauma #Justice #MentalHealth #SexualViolence

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Violence, Abuse and Mental Health Network @vamhn.bsky.social · Jun 19

📚 Emma’s interdisciplinary PhD drew from:
Feminist texts, legal materials
Interviews with people with lived experience
Narrow understanding of relationship between sexual violence and mental health

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Violence, Abuse and Mental Health Network @vamhn.bsky.social · Jun 19

🚨 June #VAMHNWebinar! 🚨
We’re joined by Dr. Emma Yapp (University of Bristol), presenting:
‘Normal trauma and abnormal diagnosis: The role of mental health evidence in sexual violence trials’
#Trauma #SexualViolence #MentalHealth #Justice

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Violence, Abuse and Mental Health Network @vamhn.bsky.social · May 29

📢 June #VAMHNwebinar
Join us on 18 June, 12–12:45pm for:
“Normal Trauma and Abnormal Diagnosis: The Role of Mental Health Evidence in Sexual Violence Trials”
with Dr Emma Yapp (University of Bristol)
Register here: tinyurl.com/bdebrwz3
#SexualViolence #Trauma #Justice #MentalHealth

VAMHN lunchtime webinar

Our June webinar, “Normal Trauma and Abnormal Diagnosis: The Role of Mental Health Evidence in Sexual Violence Trials”, will be delivered b

tinyurl.com

Violence, Abuse and Mental Health Network @vamhn.bsky.social · May 21

Thank you to everyone who joined our #VAMHNWebinar today! We will be uploading the recording and additional resources to our website soon: www.vamhn.co.uk/webinars.html

Violence, Abuse and Mental Health Network @vamhn.bsky.social · May 21

✅Key takeaways:
Male survivors face complex, often overlooked mental health challenges
Male rape myths and cultural narratives have real impacts
Race, gender, and culture intersect to shape survivor experiences
Mental health and justice systems must improve responses
#VAMHNwebinar #MaleSurvivor

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Violence, Abuse and Mental Health Network @vamhn.bsky.social · May 21

‘Going undercover’ to seek support
Distrust in systems
Need for culturally competent support
Regaining agency in a masculine frame
Male rape myths in the therapy room
Institutional harm and mistrust
#CulturalCompetence #MinoritisedVoices #TraumaInformed
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Violence, Abuse and Mental Health Network @vamhn.bsky.social · May 21

📚Findings from in-depth IPA interviews with 11 South Asian men in the UK who experienced childhood sexual abuse—Widanaralalage et al. 2025
Key themes:
Family honour and shame
Taboos on sex and mental health
Dismissal and silencing
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Violence, Abuse and Mental Health Network @vamhn.bsky.social · May 21

📚Findings from men with histories of rape/sexual abuse after the age of 13 in the UK—Widanaralalage et al. 2022
Key themes:
Silence & discomfort
Masculinity, stoicism, and invulnerability
Mockery and stigma
Exclusion from services
Institutional victim blaming
Institutional betrayal

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Violence, Abuse and Mental Health Network @vamhn.bsky.social · May 21

Ken’s Research—
📌How do male survivors make sense of sexual victimisation?
📌What shapes disclosure and access to support?
📌How do support services respond to male survivors?
#MaleSurvivor #SexualViolence #Intersectionality

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Violence, Abuse and Mental Health Network @vamhn.bsky.social · May 21

Male rape myths extend rape culture
“Real men can’t be raped”
“Only gay men are raped”
“Men who are raped must have wanted it”
“Male rape isn’t traumatic”
These myths reinforce toxic masculinity, homophobia, and victim-blaming.
#MaleRapeMyths #RapeCulture

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Violence, Abuse and Mental Health Network @vamhn.bsky.social · May 21

⚠️Male victims of sexual violence
1 in 4 men, 1 in 6 boys report lifetime experiences
Psychological impacts include: depression, nightmares, flashbacks, identity crises
Men face serious barriers to recognition, disclosure, and accessing support
Fewer tailored services are available for men

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Violence, Abuse and Mental Health Network @vamhn.bsky.social · May 21

🔍This talk will focus on:
1. Prevalence and challenges to recognition
2. Impacts of male rape myths
3. Barriers to disclosure and help seeking
4. Lived experiences of survivors
5. Implications for support and policy
#VAMHNWebinar #TraumaInformedCare

Violence, Abuse and Mental Health Network @vamhn.bsky.social · May 21

🚨 Live now at #VAMHNWebinar! 🚨
We’re joined by Dr. Kenneth Widanaralalage (King’s College London), presenting:
‘Male Survivors of Sexual Violence — Silence, Myths, and Institutional Harm’
#MaleSurvivor #SexualViolence #MentalHealth #Justice

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Violence, Abuse and Mental Health Network @vamhn.bsky.social · May 21

🚨 Live now at #VAMHNWebinar! 🚨
We’re joined by Dr. Kenneth Widanaralalage (King’s College London), presenting:
‘Male Survivors of Sexual Violence — Silence, Myths, and Institutional Harm’
#MaleSurvivor #SexualViolence #MentalHealth #Justice

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Reposted by Violence, Abuse and Mental Health Network

Violence, Abuse and Mental Health Network @vamhn.bsky.social · Apr 23

Join our May #VAMHNwebinar with Dr. Kennath Widanaralalage (King's College London) on 21 May, 12–12:45pm, as he shares the findings from research on male survivors of rape and sexual abuse, with a focus on cultural narratives, racialised stigma, and system responses. tinyurl.com/eejmehkd

VAMHN lunchtime webinar

with Dr Kennath Widanaralalage PhD, King's College London

tinyurl.com

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Violence, Abuse and Mental Health Network @vamhn.bsky.social · Apr 28

Joining details:

7th May 1pm-2pm (open to all)
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/weaving-st...

8th May 4pm-5pm (teachers only)
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/weaving-st...

Violence, Abuse and Mental Health Network @vamhn.bsky.social · Apr 28

Join Changing Relations for their webinars showcasing the Weaving Stories of Peer Sexual Abuse animation, co-created with young people & survivors.

The webinars are pay-as-you-feel basis!

#PeerAbuse #YouthVoices

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Violence, Abuse and Mental Health Network @vamhn.bsky.social · Apr 23

Join our May #VAMHNwebinar with Dr. Kennath Widanaralalage (King's College London) on 21 May, 12–12:45pm, as he shares the findings from research on male survivors of rape and sexual abuse, with a focus on cultural narratives, racialised stigma, and system responses. tinyurl.com/eejmehkd

VAMHN lunchtime webinar

with Dr Kennath Widanaralalage PhD, King's College London

tinyurl.com

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