Child Abuse and Mental Health Survivors Information - Issue #141
Cutting back for Summer.
Photo by me.
Before we get into the links and things, I wanted to make a little announcement. With the Memorial Day behind us and the unofficial start of Summer (I live in Louisiana, and it’s already been in the 90s for a couple of weeks, but we’ll keep with that tradition of this weekend being the unofficial start of Summer.), I’m going to take a bit of a hiatus from the newsletter.
It's not a complete holiday. I’ll still be around all Summer but will cut back on my weekly schedule.
Thank you for reading the Child Abuse and Mental Health Survivors newsletter. Each week, I share new blog posts and other resources that aim to help survivors of childhood abuse and those who are struggling with mental health issues feel less alone as we discuss the issues surrounding our issues.
For more information about me and why this newsletter exists, visit the website - Child Abuse Survivor.
I’m switching to sending this newsletter every other week for the Summer. A bit more time in my schedule would be a welcome relief, and frankly, as we get into Summer, there aren’t as many things I want to write about. I spend more time online looking for interesting articles or new technology that isn’t AI while trying to limit my time online as we go through an election cycle in the US.
I hope to deliver a better newsletter if I take some extra time to get creative and offer up truly thought-provoking ideas instead of rushing to find content to add every week.
Like most things I do online, it’s an experiment. I plan to go back to sending this weekly around Labor Day, but we’ll see how it goes. I might surprise you if something important comes up during an off week. I might start sending longer emails every other week. I might find a better format or process that makes it easier to get back to publishing every week.
Most of all, I want to give myself more time to be present in the moment this Summer, online and offline. I need to create some space to do that. This is my attempt to create it.
New from the Blogs
Reasons I Didn't Tell Anyone I Was Being Sexually Abused
That's why when people approach me with ideas for how to prevent childhood sexual abuse, the only two things I focus on are education and honesty. I didn't even know I was being abused because I lacked any education, and I didn't talk to anyone because there were no safe adults for me to talk to.
Sharing - Sibling Sexual Abuse Facts Caregivers Should Know
This article makes clear that sibling sexual abuse is happening to kids all around us. It has been happening throughout history. We also know a lot about it if people are willing to listen. The article is long but well worth it to understand what the risks are, what to do when you find out about it, how to prevent it, and most importantly, understand that if you were sexually abused by a sibling, you are not alone.
Sharing - Meet the people falling through the gaps of the mental health care system
We all deserve access to resources that would help us avoid becoming a danger to ourselves. These resources shouldn't be limited to people like me, who are lucky enough to have family support to help cover the extra costs, and they shouldn't require that we wait around for people to reach the point of needing to be hospitalized before we offer them any. That middle ground is full of people who deserve better.
Shared from Elsewhere
We see social media and screens demonized often, so this is an important reminder:
The Often Overlooked Positive Side of Social Media
Here are some examples of that positive side: Six Mental Health accounts you need to follow on Instagram. Plus, a seventh if you follow me.
Sometimes, social media can fill in the gaps - Australians coming off antidepressants are relying on social media due to lack of clinical support
Also, it was nice of someone to curate this list:
What are your favorite podcasts about mental health?
Some parents probably don’t want to do this, but they should. - Talking to Your Child About Suicide. Even if you’re not a parent, the advice shared in that article applies to anyone you have concerns about.
Speaking of suicide prevention, the military is also a group with high risks: Silent struggle: Unpacking the alarming suicide rates in the military.
We’ve covered this topic before, but this article goes in-depth into how we’ve constructed American society and how it has contributed to the problem:
How Modern America Is Optimized for Loneliness, Misery and Poor Health.
Another topic that is key to understanding where we fail in regards to making people feel comfortable seeking help is understanding the various cultural stigmas attached to mental health - Breaking Cultural Barriers to Mental Health Care
From the Archives
How to Protect Kids from Predators Without a Need For New Laws
Kids who are “defenseless and lonely,” kids with no stable family to turn to, and kids starved for any kindness or attention are the kinds of kids that predators look for. They are the ones who can be manipulated, have no one to tell their secrets to, and are vulnerable. If we really wanted to do the hard work of protecting children from predators and, in turn, also raise adults less likely to be victimized as well, we’d do everything we can to make sure we do not raise kids who are walking around wearing such signs.
On social media, you are not only surrounded by the people you decide to follow but thanks to algorithms, you are actually surrounded by the things you choose to interact with. Accounts you don’t really interact with eventually disappear from your feeds. So, what do you interact with? If you interact with one topic most of the time, you’ll get more of it, and your perception will be that this is the norm.
Related - Sharing – How to Engage in Mindful Social Media During Challenging Times
Thanks for reading. If you find this newsletter informative and helpful, spread the word. That’s the best way to say thank you for my weekly effort.