Bipolar

In episode 133 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Michael from Silenced by Stigma. 

Silenced by Stigma supports male survivors of sexual and domestic abuse by advocating for awareness of sexual violence, providing critically needed resources for victims and their loved ones and offering prevention and training programs to allied organisations.

Silenced by Stigma offers voice to the voiceless & helps ignored victims stand up and speak out.

In this episode we discuss how and why Michael decided to start the platform and the podcast, the research and statistics in male victim-survivors of sexual abuse and the ambitions he has to change the conversation around sexual abuse and consent laws. 

We also discuss Michael's own experience of childhood sexual abuse. Michael was sexually abused as a child and adolescent by two female perpetrators.

We explore the events surrounding the two periods of abuse, how he tried to get justice for one of them and failed due to being let down by the justice system and the taboos and misconceptions around female sexual abuse perpetrators.

As always, #itsokaytovent

Find out more about Silenced By Stigma and how to listen to the podcast here: https://linktr.ee/silenced_by_stigma

You can follow Silenced By Stigma on social media below: 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sbstigma

Support Us:

Patreon: www.patreon.com/venthelpuk
GoFundMe: www.gofundme.com/f/help-vent-supp…ir-mental-health

Music: @patawawa - Strange: www.youtube.com/watch?v=d70wfeJSEvk

TRIGGER WARNING: This podcast contains deep and detailed discussions about suicide and sexual abuse, which some listeners may find extremely upsetting or distressing, so please listen with caution.

JCIP #133 - Michael from Silenced by Stigma

In episode 171 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with freelance writer Freddie deBoer.

Freddie started his career from his public library when he started his own blog whilst in a period of unemployment. After fellow writer and gay rights trailblazer Andrew Sullivan shared his third blog post on his own hugely popular blog, it exploded and he has been writing ever since. 

In recent years, he is now on SubStack where he writes about mental health, politics, media and lots of other issues. 

In this episode we discuss his writing journey, how he became disillusioned from the mental health ‘community’ and why and his Bipolar Disorder, which he was diagnosed with in 2002 when he was 20 years old.

Freddie has had several breakdowns because of his Bipolar. He ended up in a state psychiatric hospital on one occasion and had another well-publicised breakdown where he ended up attacking a fellow journalist and writer Malcolm Harris with baseless accusations of sexual criminality and it cost a lot of his reputation as a result. 

We discuss those breakdowns, that incident and how he's tried to repair his career since that moment, where we draw the line between mental health and personal responsibility and the uncomfortable reality that good people, when experiencing serious mental illness can do or say very bad things.

As always, #itsokaytovent 

You can subscribe to Freddie's SubStack here: https://freddiedeboer.substack.com/

Support Us:

Patreon: www.patreon.com/venthelpuk
GoFundMe: www.gofundme.com/f/help-vent-supp…ir-mental-health
Merchandise: www.redbubble.com/people/VentUK/shop

Music: @patawawa - Strange: www.youtube.com/watch?v=d70wfeJSEvk

JCIP #171 - Freddie deBoer

In the sixteenth episode of the Just Checking In Podcast, we spoke to Personal Trainer and Studio Manager at Rock Health & Fitness, Dean Clarke. 

In one of the most raw and in-depth interviews to date, we spoke to Dean about his mental health journey and living with Bipolar Disorder and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). 

We discussed his experiences of being in the British Army, his tours of both Iraq and Afghanistan, fatherhood, his suicide attempt and of course, a mental health chat. 

Follow Rock Health & Fitness on social media below: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rock_healthfitness_gym/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rockhealthandfitnessstudio/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rock_offley

**TRIGGER WARNING** 

This podcast contains discussions around suicide which some listeners may find distressing or upsetting so please listen with caution.

As always, #itsokaytovent 

Music: @Patawawa - Strange; www.youtube.com/watch?v=d70wfeJSEvk

JCIP #16 - Dean Clarke

The Just Checking In Podcast is another step in Vent’s mission to give people a voice, change the conversation around mental health and provide an outlet where everyone, but especially men and boys, can express themselves.

Each pod we check in with a special guest. We have a natter and a chat about all things mental health as well as anything and everything else they're passionate about. 

If it helps that person with their mental health, we'll discuss it!

Bipolar

The Just Checking In Podcast by VENT