For any of you who have worked with adult survivors of child sexual abuse you will know that the provision of a supportive, flexible , respectful accessable service is not always easy. When working with male survivors this difficulty can take many forms. I have recently come across a website that I think is pretty good. Its called 'living well' go here to have a look. It is a site designed for men who have experienced child sexual abuse or sexual assault
You will find topics such as:
Child sexual abuse
Adult Sexual Assault
Common Problems
Stories of acknowledgement and Hope
Relationships, sexuality and sex
Counselling etc
Friday, April 24, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
HOAX +HIV
It really makes me sad to see the sort of HOAX that some people are prepared to develop based on thier own fear and hatred of issues around sexual health. Below is an email HOAX that has been going around: Please read it and see it for the hate and fear mongering that it is. After you read it please read the response by SHineSA Coordinator of Medical Education - Katrina Allen
"Its a sick world we live in!!What a world we live in........A few weeks ago in a movie theatre in Melbourne a person sat on something that was poking out of one of the seats.When she got up to see what it was she found a needle sticking out Of the seat with a note attached saying a quote; 'You have just been infected by HIV' quote.The Disease control Centre in Melbourne reports many similar incidents have occurred in many other Australian cities recently.All tested needles are HIV Positive.The Centre also reports that needles have been found in the cash dispensers in ATMs. We ask everyone to use extreme caution when faced with this kind of situation. All public chairs/seats should be inspected with vigilance and caution before use.17 people have been tested positive in the Western suburbs alone in the last 2 months!!! A careful visual inspection should be enough.In addition they ask that each of you pass this message along to all members of your family and your friends of the potential danger. We all have to be careful at public places! This is very important.Just think about saving a life of someone even you don't know by forwarding this message. Please, take a few seconds of your time to pass it along.Australian Red Cross Blood ServicePh: (08) 94212877 Fax: (08)94212366 "
Dear all,
You can see from the exchange below this is a hoax, as we have already been notified.
I guess for me there is the important issue of the particular venom shown towards HIV infected people, which in our world feeds into homophobia and xenophobia (fear of strangers)/ racism. My experience of those who are HIV infected is that they are scrupulously careful to protect other people from the risk of infection even to the point of refusing attempts to stop bleeding until you can find some gloves.
The net is a wonderful thing but can inflame our fears as well as our joys (see extreme sheepherding - but you may need to do it at home as you need the music!)
Cheers Katrina
"Its a sick world we live in!!What a world we live in........A few weeks ago in a movie theatre in Melbourne a person sat on something that was poking out of one of the seats.When she got up to see what it was she found a needle sticking out Of the seat with a note attached saying a quote; 'You have just been infected by HIV' quote.The Disease control Centre in Melbourne reports many similar incidents have occurred in many other Australian cities recently.All tested needles are HIV Positive.The Centre also reports that needles have been found in the cash dispensers in ATMs. We ask everyone to use extreme caution when faced with this kind of situation. All public chairs/seats should be inspected with vigilance and caution before use.17 people have been tested positive in the Western suburbs alone in the last 2 months!!! A careful visual inspection should be enough.In addition they ask that each of you pass this message along to all members of your family and your friends of the potential danger. We all have to be careful at public places! This is very important.Just think about saving a life of someone even you don't know by forwarding this message. Please, take a few seconds of your time to pass it along.Australian Red Cross Blood ServicePh: (08) 94212877 Fax: (08)94212366 "
Dear all,
You can see from the exchange below this is a hoax, as we have already been notified.
I guess for me there is the important issue of the particular venom shown towards HIV infected people, which in our world feeds into homophobia and xenophobia (fear of strangers)/ racism. My experience of those who are HIV infected is that they are scrupulously careful to protect other people from the risk of infection even to the point of refusing attempts to stop bleeding until you can find some gloves.
The net is a wonderful thing but can inflame our fears as well as our joys (see extreme sheepherding - but you may need to do it at home as you need the music!)
Cheers Katrina
Compatability ???
People often ask me in the SE&X course things like:
How do you bring up a topic about sexuality with your partner(s)?
How can I talk about sexual compatability?
As far as I am concerened discussing anything with people depends on your level of comfort, knowledge,feelings, who the person is, what environment you are in etcetc.
Here is a link for those of you who are interested from about.com: sexuality regarding 'sexual' combatability. have a look around? What are youre thoughts??
How do you bring up a topic about sexuality with your partner(s)?
How can I talk about sexual compatability?
As far as I am concerened discussing anything with people depends on your level of comfort, knowledge,feelings, who the person is, what environment you are in etcetc.
Here is a link for those of you who are interested from about.com: sexuality regarding 'sexual' combatability. have a look around? What are youre thoughts??
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Bad Science
This is why it is SO important to break myths about sexual health and treatments. This is the story of how a vitamin salesman set back the treatment of HIV Aids in South Africa.
10x14 Bricks
Has anyone seen this DVD? I'd be interested in your review if you have.
Lud
10 x 14 bricks: A ground breaking crime prevention kit ideal for educators: WINNER: Innovation in digital media, 2009 SA screen awards. This interactive resource comes with session planners, activities and additional support material.
10x14 bricks was produced in a juvenile secure care facility over a 5 week intensive workshop. In candid meet the director documentaries and in thier own films young offenders share thier life choices about crime and the consequences
Under Age Laws Putting NT Kids at Risk
Under-age sex laws 'putting NT kids at risk'
By Sara Everingham for AM
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) is warning that legislative changes in the Northern Territory could have a devastating impact on the health of many Indigenous children.
The Northern Territory Government says its Care and Protection of Children Act is all about keeping kids safe.
But the AMA is warning the act's mandatory reporting requirements go too far and Dr Paul Bauert from the AMA's Northern Territory branch is deeply concerned.
Until now, NT laws were similar to what operates in the other states; it was mandatory to report suspected child sexual abuse.
But now health workers must report sexual activity among under-16s to a team that includes police and staff in the Territory's department of health and families.
Failure to do so could result in a fine of up to around $20,000. And it is not just doctors who will have to report.
"This applies to everybody," Dr Bauert said. "Parents, brothers and sisters, mates."
The legislation has been in place for months but it was only late last week that the Northern Territory Health Department told staff to comply.
They were told to report anyone under 16 who is sexually active, even if that person's sexual partner is also under 16 or of the same age, and regardless of consent.
"Any person who has sexual intercourse with someone under the age of 16 is guilty of a crime and liable to imprisonment for 16 years," Dr Bauert said.
"There's no age defence, so if the person who was having sex with somebody under the age of 16 is 15, that is no defence.
"We are going to have young people not prepared to come seeking help in terms of contraception advice; they won't be coming seeking advice in early pregnancy, if themselves or their partner are likely to be charged with a crime."
Dr Bauert says patients will also think twice before seeking treatment for sexually transmitted infections.
They are particularly prevalent in the territory's Indigenous communities.
"So this too is going to lead to increased morbidity and increased deaths, particularly from disseminated gonococcal infection," Dr Bauert said.
Divided opinion
The Health Department's chief executive, Dr David Ashbridge has defended the move.
"There is no intent to limit medical services," he said.
"The absolute policy intent is to making sure the children who might be harmed are actually looked after by the society."
And the Territory's shadow attorney-general and child protection spokeswoman, Jodeen Carney, says the laws are needed.
"I've received various advice from people that not all doctors at all times report sexual abuse, or evidence of sexual activity," she said.
"The reality is, in any event, that doctors are obliged to report signs of sexual activity in children because it's not for them to undergo an investigation, it's for the police.
"And children 16 years or younger are unable to consent, because the law of the Northern Territory says that they can't."
But Dr Bauert says the old system was working.
"We were having young children confiding they were being abused, or at risk of abuse," he said.
"And proper action or appropriate action was being taken in the majority of cases."
But the old system frustrated crime authorities.
The Australian Crime Commission has been looking into Indigenous child sexual abuse and last year tried to use its powers to access the health records of eight Indigenous girls in the Northern Territory aged between 13 and 15.
They had been fitted with the Implanon contraceptive implant.
Their clinic refused to hand over the records, saying there was no evidence of abuse, and the clinic won the case in the Federal Court.
The Crime Commission would not comment on whether these changes would help its investigations.
The AMA will meet the Government this week to discuss its concerns but individual doctors are taking matters into their own hands.
The AMA has been told some doctors have stopped asking their young patients if they are sexually active.
By Sara Everingham for AM
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) is warning that legislative changes in the Northern Territory could have a devastating impact on the health of many Indigenous children.
The Northern Territory Government says its Care and Protection of Children Act is all about keeping kids safe.
But the AMA is warning the act's mandatory reporting requirements go too far and Dr Paul Bauert from the AMA's Northern Territory branch is deeply concerned.
Until now, NT laws were similar to what operates in the other states; it was mandatory to report suspected child sexual abuse.
But now health workers must report sexual activity among under-16s to a team that includes police and staff in the Territory's department of health and families.
Failure to do so could result in a fine of up to around $20,000. And it is not just doctors who will have to report.
"This applies to everybody," Dr Bauert said. "Parents, brothers and sisters, mates."
The legislation has been in place for months but it was only late last week that the Northern Territory Health Department told staff to comply.
They were told to report anyone under 16 who is sexually active, even if that person's sexual partner is also under 16 or of the same age, and regardless of consent.
"Any person who has sexual intercourse with someone under the age of 16 is guilty of a crime and liable to imprisonment for 16 years," Dr Bauert said.
"There's no age defence, so if the person who was having sex with somebody under the age of 16 is 15, that is no defence.
"We are going to have young people not prepared to come seeking help in terms of contraception advice; they won't be coming seeking advice in early pregnancy, if themselves or their partner are likely to be charged with a crime."
Dr Bauert says patients will also think twice before seeking treatment for sexually transmitted infections.
They are particularly prevalent in the territory's Indigenous communities.
"So this too is going to lead to increased morbidity and increased deaths, particularly from disseminated gonococcal infection," Dr Bauert said.
Divided opinion
The Health Department's chief executive, Dr David Ashbridge has defended the move.
"There is no intent to limit medical services," he said.
"The absolute policy intent is to making sure the children who might be harmed are actually looked after by the society."
And the Territory's shadow attorney-general and child protection spokeswoman, Jodeen Carney, says the laws are needed.
"I've received various advice from people that not all doctors at all times report sexual abuse, or evidence of sexual activity," she said.
"The reality is, in any event, that doctors are obliged to report signs of sexual activity in children because it's not for them to undergo an investigation, it's for the police.
"And children 16 years or younger are unable to consent, because the law of the Northern Territory says that they can't."
But Dr Bauert says the old system was working.
"We were having young children confiding they were being abused, or at risk of abuse," he said.
"And proper action or appropriate action was being taken in the majority of cases."
But the old system frustrated crime authorities.
The Australian Crime Commission has been looking into Indigenous child sexual abuse and last year tried to use its powers to access the health records of eight Indigenous girls in the Northern Territory aged between 13 and 15.
They had been fitted with the Implanon contraceptive implant.
Their clinic refused to hand over the records, saying there was no evidence of abuse, and the clinic won the case in the Federal Court.
The Crime Commission would not comment on whether these changes would help its investigations.
The AMA will meet the Government this week to discuss its concerns but individual doctors are taking matters into their own hands.
The AMA has been told some doctors have stopped asking their young patients if they are sexually active.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Scarlett Johansson Speaks Out
Scarlett Johansson felt she needed to speak out about unsafe media portrayal of body image.
"I'm a petite person to begin with, so the idea of my losing this amount of weight is utter lunacy. If I were to lose 14 pounds, I'd have to part with both arms. And a foot. I'm frustrated with the irresponsibility of tabloid media who sell the public ideas about what we should look like and how we should get there."
"The press should be held accountable for the false ideals they sell to their readers regarding body image — that's the real weight of the issue.
Go here to read her full article
"I'm a petite person to begin with, so the idea of my losing this amount of weight is utter lunacy. If I were to lose 14 pounds, I'd have to part with both arms. And a foot. I'm frustrated with the irresponsibility of tabloid media who sell the public ideas about what we should look like and how we should get there."
"The press should be held accountable for the false ideals they sell to their readers regarding body image — that's the real weight of the issue.
Go here to read her full article
The Pleasure Project
Just thought I would re-bring this to the attention of readers.
The Pleasure project
The Pleasure Project is an educational, advocacy and research initiative that promotes safer sex that feels good.
While most safer sex and HIV prevention programmes are negative and disease-focused, The Pleasure Project is different: we take a positive, liberating and sexy approach to safer sex. Think of it as sex education ... with the emphasis on 'sex'. We aim to make sex safer by addressing one of the major reasons people have sex: the pursuit of pleasure.
Go here to have a look at the site:
You can find information about work happening in India, The UK, and all over. You will read about the vaginal wall exhibition and the global mapping of pleasure. Go in and have a look
The Pleasure project
The Pleasure Project is an educational, advocacy and research initiative that promotes safer sex that feels good.
While most safer sex and HIV prevention programmes are negative and disease-focused, The Pleasure Project is different: we take a positive, liberating and sexy approach to safer sex. Think of it as sex education ... with the emphasis on 'sex'. We aim to make sex safer by addressing one of the major reasons people have sex: the pursuit of pleasure.
Go here to have a look at the site:
You can find information about work happening in India, The UK, and all over. You will read about the vaginal wall exhibition and the global mapping of pleasure. Go in and have a look
Men Engage -Boys and Men for Gender Equality
I really like this website. It is a proactice place that you could use when working with young men OR to give yourself some more information:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
