King's College London

Shame plays a significant etiological role in the development of Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) and is a barrier to healing for survivors of violence and abuse. Shame, self-blame and humiliation are common culturally mediated responses of minoritized women experiences of sexual violence, and this is a huge barrier in being able to talk about experiences and access support. Research has shown that there is a need for statutory and third sector organisations to develop cultural sensitivity and an intersectional approach when supporting survivors of sexual violence.

This project is creative collaboration between researchers and artists and will focus on empowering survivors of violence and abuse. It’s about shifting the narrative from blaming the victim and recognizing that the societal culture of shame exacerbates mental health problems and is a barrier to survivors healing after abuse and violence. We will work with their community navigators to reach women who might not ordinarily access counselling or therapy: women from minoritised backgrounds who may have experienced multiple barriers to wellbeing – and who will benefit from more voice, choice and control over the design of services most helpful to them.

Partners

This project is delivered in partnership with:

The Maya Centre - The Maya Centre is a community-based charity providing free mental health and wellbeing services to women on low incomes whose mental health has been affected by a range of experiences including depression and anxiety, violence against women and girls, inequality, discrimination and racism.

Andreena Leanne - Andreena (she/her) is a Black Lesbian Lived Experience Speaker, Writing Workshop Facilitator & Poet who helps organisations with their inclusion and wellbeing strategy by speaking about intersectionality, authenticity, allyship and facilitating writing workshops on self-care. During the structured workshops the participants are encouraged to explore what self-care means to them and find strategies to avoid burnout and increase productivity.

Andreena writes and performs poetry to come to terms with and speak out about her personal experiences with homelessness, mental health, identity, childhood sexual abuse & the many other challenges she has faced in her life.

Zoe Thompson – Sweet-Thang: Zoe Thompson (she/her), is the founder of sweet-thang, a print zine and indie press celebrating Black DIY creativity and culture. She is a freelance social media manager and writer based in London, specialising in editorial design, and hosts creative writing and zine-making workshops.

Evie Muir – Evie is a Domestic Abuse Specialist, Freelance Journalist and Intersectional Feminist

ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health - Working with a range of both academic and non-academic partners, the cross-faculty Centre brings together a unique mix of disciplines and expertise to conduct innovative social science research on the impact of rapid social change in mental health.

Health and Social Equity Collective - The Collective consists of researchers, community leaders, policy makers, and health professionals responding to persistent social and health inequities.