A support group for male survivors of child sexual abuse is coming to Orange.
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Survivors and Mates Support Network (SAMSN) first began running workshops in 2011, but up until now those have not extended out to the Central West.
"SAMSN started with a small group of survivors who saw the need or lack of services for survivors," Julie Blyth, the organisation's community engagement manager said.
"They teamed up with some professionals and they started SAMSN."
But that Central West absence will all change from next week when, as a lead up to the beginning of the eight-week support groups, the SAMSN team will be running a service providers workshop.
"There's been history of abuse of boys, particularly in institutions in the Central West," Ms Blyth added.
"We've been aware at SAMSN of wanting to reach out to men in more remote parts of NSW and not just city based.
"So we have begun to provide groups for men in those remote places, because men generally don't speak out about child sexual abuse. When they do, they really want to talk to someone else who can relate to that."
This group will be run online, commencing on April 27 and it is professionally facilitated and free of charge.
This group will be the 70th eight-week group for male survivors.
"Next week we are providing a service provider's workshop which gives extra training and capacity to workers to better respond when these men do disclose and to find the services they need," Ms Blyth added.
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"Because of COVID last year we had to move the groups online and we plan this will be the first of many online.
"Of course we want to run some face to face.
"But the advantage of online is that if you have a smart phone or some connection to the internet you can be anywhere attending one of these groups and that's an advantage for men because a lot of them feel safer in their own home and they don't have to travel."
Those wishing to register for one of the groups can go to the SAMSN website or phone them.
From there, they can put their name down to attend a group and then one of the facilitators of the group will give them a call to then check in.
If you or someone you know has been impacted by a sexual assault, help is available through 1800 RESPECT. Counselling and support is available for survivors of child sexual abuse through Bravehearts on 1800 272 831.Lifeline is a 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention helpline: 13 11 14.
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