Compo changes shock

An article from the Waikato Times by Maryanne Twentyman

An international expert on sexual abuse recovery is shocked by new ACC guidelines that require victims to be diagnosed with a mental injury to be eligible for compensation.
American Mike Lew is a world renowned psychotherapist from Boston who was in Hamilton today leading a workshop for health professionals who work with male survivors of sexual abuse. He said New Zealand's compensation system was once a world leader.
"I travel the world taking these types of workshops and ACC's enlightened stance on sexual abuse survivors was pioneering in how it supported survivors, which in turn facilitated positive growth and healing," Mr Lew said.
But ACC's new criteria were a "real tragedy that would cause tremendous suffering," he said.
It also angers Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse Trust (MSSAT) national manager Ken Clearwater.
"I have been to international workshops with Mike (Lew) and people were blown away by ACC's stance in the past – but now the Government is getting it all wrong and my major concern is that Nick Smith and the prime minister have been given misleading information in terms of clinical pathways," Mr Clearwater said.
More than 80 doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists and counsellors were taking part in today's workshop at Hamilton Gardens, where Mr Lew hopes to change attitudes about the way male survivors are supported by all health professionals.
"A lot of the pioneering work done on sexual abuse recovery was mainly by women for women – but we need to look at new models and recognise the different needs of males," Mr Lew said.
One in six males is thought to have suffered some form of sexual abuse including child sexual abuse, rape, physical violence, emotional abuse and neglect.
Mr Lew said there was a lot of "misinformation, fear and shame about what disclosure would mean" for male survivors. "People wrongly believe a boy that's abused grows up to be an abuser – but that is not true.
"Most of them grow up to be protectors, it's a small minority that go the other way" he said.
While Mr Lew works with both men and women who have been abused, he said males found it much harder to come forward.
"It's important to emphasise the strengths of male socialisation and not try and fit men into a model that doesn't fit," he said.
It was important for health professionals to create respect and safety for clients.
"After that survivors themselves can go on to do extraordinary work. I think it's important to remember that for both males and females recovery is real – all of the work they do does pay off and life does get better," he said.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/3659195/Compo-changes-shock