Thank you to everyone who joined our #VAMHNWebinar yesterday! You can find the recording and additional resources on our webiste:

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

📘 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

💬 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

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

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

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.

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

📚 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

🚨 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

📢 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: https://t.co/R20fVxnrvI #SexualViolence #Justice #MentalHealth

Thank you to everyone who joined our #VAMHNWebinartoday! We will be uploading the recording and additional resources to our website soon:

✅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

‘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 <2/2>

📚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 <1/2>

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

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

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

⚠️Male victims of SV 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

🔍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