Boys and men who have suffered sexual abuse are not getting the gender-specific counselling and support they need because Northland lacks those services.
Possibly hundreds of boys have been affected in cases that have come to light in Far North alone, and they and their families need expert support, the Christchurch-based manager of Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse Trust, Ken Clearwater said.
"It's a huge issue in this country that we do not offer fully publicly-funded, highly specialised counselling in the area of male sexual abuse," Mr Clearwater said. David Passell, MSSAT Auckland co-ordinator, holds occasional one-to-one and peer "survivor"support sessions in Northland but said it was important a fulltime service be set up. It was crucial boys got the message there was hope and full emotional and psychological recovery after experiencing sexual abuse, Mr Passell said.
There was also a need for greater public education to dispel myths, such as men who had suffered abuse would become perpetrators. Ninety-eight per cent did not, but many men had ongoing personal issues relating to the abuse, Mr Passell said.
Another myth was that perpetrators wormed their way into positions of power in vulnerable communities. "A paedophile is a paedophile, full stop. It doesn't matter where they live." Mr Clearwater said.
