Male victims of sexual violence typically take 25 years or more to disclose.

Barriers to Disclosure

  • Male victims of sexual violence typically take 25 years or more to disclose.
  • They may avoid the perceived disruption to their life if they try to deal with it.
  • Their disclosure may be reduced by the effect disclosure has, or might have, on others.
  • They may be told that they are lying
  • They may be told to go away and deal with it.
  • They may experience a lack of services

What improves disclosure?

Reduce the shame
  • Casual enquiry by clinician
  • Assurance of the normality/commonness
  • Possible self disclosure by friend/professional
  • Information that can be acted on
  • Hearing success stories
  • Being asked directly by trusted person/friend
Reduce the fear
  • Reading/gathering data online
  • Hearing personal testimony. Hear the benefits.
  • Reassurance by another of support and availability