Credibility Issues for Survivors of Violence with Mental Health and Substance Abuse Histories
Published by: Rachel White Domain
Survivors who experience mental health or substance use conditions may not be believed when they seek help. These survivors may be experiencing the mental health effects of trauma and/or using substances to cope. In addition, individuals who have a preexisting condition are at a higher risk for violence and may even be targeted for abuse precisely because they are less likely to be believed. Abusers may also intentionally exacerbate a preexisting condition or coerce or force their partners into using alcohol or drugs. But many survivors with these experiences are discredited when they access our systems. This webinar will explore these dynamics and consider how we can reframe the way that we think about survivors’ credibility.