Men's Health Week

At Moray Rape Crisis we support adults and young people, aged 11 and over, of any gender, race, sexual orientation, disability, and religious and cultural background. This includes male survivors.

Anyone can experience sexual violence. Men who have experienced sexual violence may have particular worries and fears, and can face barriers to accessing support.

Sexual violence affects men in different ways. The impacts can be wide-ranging. Male survivors may experience symptoms of trauma, or feel anxious, angry, confused, ashamed, isolated, depressed or suicidal.

There can be an assumption in society that ‘real’ men cannot be raped or abused, as they should be able to defend themselves; however people react involuntarily to danger, attack, fear or threat. This is the flight, freeze or fight response (a bodily response to a traumatic event), and people cannot control how they react in situations like this; it’s the body trying to protect itself. Not fighting or running away does not mean you let it happen. Not remembering what happened does not mean it didn’t happen. We have more information about trauma here.

Some male survivors may question whether the sexual violence they experienced has had an impact on their sexual orientation, or feel uncomfortable or uncertain about their sexual identity. Some trans men may find that their experience of sexual violence increases their dysphoria, or impacts on how they feel about their transition or gender identity. Being sexually abused has nothing to do with your sexual orientation or gender identity. Sexual violence happens because of who the abuser is, not who you are.

If you have experienced sexual violence, you are not to blame. The person who harmed you is responsible. You are not alone.

IT IS POSSIBLE TO HEAL FROM SEXUAL VIOLENCE. MORAY RAPE CRISIS CAN HELP WITH THIS

If you are a man affected by sexual violence, you are not alone. You can contact us for support by phone on 01343 550407 or email at contact@morayrapecrisis.scot. We will listen to what you say, believe you and treat you with respect.

You can also contact the Rape Crisis Scotland National Helpline, each day from 5pm to midnight, on 08088 01 03 02, or by texting 07537 410 027 or emailing support@rapecrisisscotland.org.uk.

Rape Crisis Scotland have produced a resource for male survivors, it contains helpful information about sexual violence, getting support, and common concerns.

Survivors UK are a UK-based charity supporting male survivors of sexual abuse. Their website has lots of information and helpful advice. They also run the National Male Survivors Online Helpline for men, boys and non-binary people who have experience sexual abuse at any time in their lives. You can contact them by webchat or SMS 020 3322 186.

You can also access a helpful resource for male survivors here. Plus, they answer some of the commonly asked questions here.