Teesside academic shines spotlight on male victims of domestic violence

A Teesside University academic is using her research to shine the spotlight on the sensitive subject of male victims of domestic violence.

Dr Jessica McCarrick, a Senior Lecturer in Counselling Psychology, thinks more should be done to support male victims.

She says that many don’t report the violence they suffer for fear of themselves being the subject of false accusations.

Dr McCarrick delivered a presentation as part of Teesside University’s A Spoonful of Knowledge sessions, a series of events which encourages people to discuss and debate topical issues.

Her research focusses on in-depth interviews with male victims of domestic violence and explores why men are more than twice as likely as women not to report the abuse they suffer.

It found that when men do report the abuse, their negative experiences are perpetuated within the criminal justice system by being treated like the guilty party or feeling dismissed by the police.

Since A Spoonful of Knowledge, Dr McCarrick has been invited to deliver a talk to social workers at Middlesbrough Council to help them understand more about the issues men face.

She was also asked to present her work at the British Psychology Society Conference in Brighton.

A host of further A Spoonful of Knowledge events are taking place over the coming months, covering a broad range of subjects, from global warming and counterfeit fashion, to football fandom and the management of chronic pain.

The events are open to everybody and take place on the last Tuesday of every month, from 6.00pm to 8.00pm, at the Dickens Inn on Southfield Road, Middlesbrough.