Don’t suffer in silence

Silence encourages the tormentor, not the tormented. — 123.rf

WHILE it is not widely discussed in a conservative society like Malaysia, being at the receiving end of sexual harassment or domestic violence can have a great impact on the mental health of male survivors since most of them suffer in silence, says Malaysian Mental Health Association president and consultant psychiatrist Professor Datuk Dr Andrew Mohanraj.

Anxiety, depression, low self esteem, and poor work performance are common among survivors, says Dr Andrew. One of the causes of distress is societal pressure and stigma, where male survivors often become objects of ridicule as it is seen to be “unmanly” to report such incidents.