Boys and Men’s Strategy Campaign
Northern Ireland
Parliament Buildings Conference November 22
Split the Difference, in partnership with the Men’s Alliance NI, hosted a conference in Parliament Buildings, Belfast, sponsored by Andy Allen MBE.
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The event was part of our campaign for a intimate abuse strategy boys and men in Northern Ireland. Over the afternoon, the Mental Health Champion, the Victims of Crime Commissioner, Members of the Legislative Assembly and Service Leaders share their perspectives on the needs of boys and men who experience abuse.
Professor Siobhan O’Neill: Mental Health Champion for Northern Ireland says that boys and men need to have more consideration in services and that more research needs to be carried out to enable services to understand their needs.
Naomi Long: MLA, Leader of the Alliance Party and former Minister of Justice became the first MLA to make the Be Seen, Heard & Safe Promise.
Join her and make the promise to never commit, condone, dismiss or remain silent about domestic or sexual abuse against anyone.
Professor Siobhan O’Neill Mental Health Champion for Northern Ireland says that boys and men need to have more consideration in services and that more research needs to be carried out to enable services to understand their needs.
Geraldine Hanna: Victims of Crime Commissioner Designate gave a powerful, supportive speech on her offices intention to include boys and men, as victims of domestic and sexual abuse.
Robbie Butler: MLA says: “Abuse, addiction and homelessness, are some of the areas that result in the heightened suicide for boys and men.”
Professor Siobhan O’Neill Mental Health Champion for Northern Ireland says that boys and men need to have more consideration in services and that more research needs to be carried out to enable services to understand their needs.
Carey Baxter, Chair of Men’s Alliance NI says: "One in six men will face domestic abuse in their lifetime. In Northern Ireland, Five of nine domestic homicides in 21-22 were men."
Rachel Fairhurst: International Trauma Specialist says there is a reason why boys and men find it hard to communicate. Exploring the ‘neuroscience of silence’ Rachel says: ”When someone is experiencing the biological effects of trauma, communication can become completely disabled.”
Professor Siobhan O’Neill Mental Health Champion for Northern Ireland says that boys and men need to have more consideration in services and that more research needs to be carried out to enable services to understand their needs.
Francis McCausland, Coordinator for the Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline in Northern Ireland has been taking the lead in enabling men to feel there is somewhere they can reach out to gain advice and support while they are experiencing life changing abuse.
Donna Marie Logue: CEO of the Dolce Vita Project supports men and women. One of their primal aims is to improve understanding and promote the building of support networks for domestic abuse survivors.
Professor Siobhan O’Neill Mental Health Champion for Northern Ireland says that boys and men need to have more consideration in services and that more research needs to be carried out to enable services to understand their needs.
Sean Parkin: Hourglass says: “On average we receive between 8 and 15 thousand calls per year, providing much needed services to the most vulnerable people in society. “The highest form of abuse with elderly men starts with financial abuse, moving on the emotional and physical.”
Sally-Anne Burris: Director of Split the Difference says: "The foundation for our work asks, should governments, statutory services and charities define domestic abuse as gendered, in favour of the female perspective when statistics tell us that a third of those experiencing all the forms of domestic abuse are men.”
Professor Siobhan O’Neill Mental Health Champion for Northern Ireland says that boys and men need to have more consideration in services and that more research needs to be carried out to enable services to understand their needs.