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	No More Silent Suffering Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse Are Calling on Government to Fund Services and Treatment By Joe Belanger London Free Press [Canada] May 23, 2006 http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/CityandRegion/2006/05/23/1592843-sun.html Tired of "suffering in silence," male survivors of sexual abuse are demanding government fund services and treatment for victims. A London group calling itself The Brotherhood of Friends will meet at 3 p.m. Friday at Interfaith, 144 Dundas St., along with a group of therapists and counsellors, to develop a strategy to push for services that now are almost non-existent. "The government doesn't recognize the severity of the problem," said spokesperson Robert Berube of London. "I know we have to fight the system in order to get what we need, but if we get enough men showing up who are willing to help out and enough therapists there, we can have success." The Brotherhood, a group that has swelled to about 20 men, is inviting other victims who want to help or find treatment, to attend. Although Health Canada says up to 37 per cent of sexual abuse victims are male, there remains a dearth of supports and services for victims. "Our objective is not to take away services from women because their services are already lacking," said Berube. "We need additional funding for services for men." The need for services for male victims has largely fallen on deaf ears, despite growing numbers of men going public against their abusers. Berube said that's because many men choose to "suffer in silence" because they're ashamed, feel guilt, blame themselves or fear no one will believe them. "They're hidden, the silent victims," said Berube, 51, a former school principal who is now on disability after suffering years of depression. He was abused by a priest as a child in the northern Ontario town of Warren, east of Sudbury, where he was raised. An article in The Free Press two years ago persuaded him to seek help. "Men who are abused are starting to come out and talk, but they're finding there are no adequate services," Berube said. "They either get into a 12-week program (provided by Family Services London) or a few sessions with a therapist and the waiting list is long." Berube said there's a lack of qualified therapists, doctors and other supports, such as centres similar to those provided for women, that would help men access treatment, provide counselling or even legal advice. "We need a men's centre to support and assist survivors," he said. "I'm not talking about a self-help group, but a place where they'll be referred to services that are available." Experts say male victims of sexual abuse suffer from severe depression, often leading to suicide. Drug abuse, prostitution, violence, failed relationships, sexual dysfunction and crime are also common among male victims. Studies have shown as many as half of Canada's prison inmates were victims of child sexual abuse.
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