Sexual Abuse: Find Your Voice Find Your Freedom with Neil Campbell | Episode 16
MENtal Health: It's Time to Talk Podcast with Allan Kehler
English - April 23, 2021 02:00 - 42 minutes - 28.9 MBMental Health Health & Fitness mental health men mental illness addiction recovery hope healing masculinity wellness suicide Homepage Download Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
At the age of 9, Neil Campbell was sexually assaulted numerous times by a neighbour. While one in six boys will be affected by some form of sexual violence, the shame and stigma attached to these acts prevent the majority of individuals from speaking out.
However, three years after these assaults Neil did speak out. He shared his painful experiences with his parents, and in turn they informed the local authorities. The message from the police was clear: Don't talk about it. Bury it. Forget it. So, Neil attempted to numb the pain through alcohol while combatting his depression and suicidal ideations alone. Thirty years later, Neil was able to begin his recovery by joining a men’s support group at the Sexual Assault Centre of Edmonton.
Today, Neil puts a face and voice to sexual abuse so that other men know it's okay to talk about this prevalent issue. On this episode we speak openly and honestly because we understand that if we can find our voice, we can find our freedom.