Male Survivors: We Are Here for You

I mean, totally. I felt different. I looked different. I carried myself differently. I never forgot the help that BARCC provided me to help me to a much better place.

The Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (BARCC) is here to support survivors of sexual assault, harassment, and abuse of all genders, including men (cisgender and transgender). If someone you know is a survivor of sexual assault, our services are also available to you. BARCC has provided services to male victims and survivors of sexual assault since 1998, addressing their unique needs with specialized programming including group counseling for men, individual counseling, and Day of Recovery events with MenHealing.

Research shows that about one in six men have experienced sexual violence at some point in their lives. While sexual assault is traumatic regardless of gender, survivors who are men often respond to and heal from it differently because of what society tells them about being men and their own perceptions of masculinity. Stigma and shame around feeling “less than” factor into why men tend to wait much longer before talking with anyone or seeking help. BARCC counselors are specially trained to work with male survivors.

A male survivor in a striped sweater sits on a wooden deck, gazing at the tranquil ocean under a clear sky.

BARCC Services

All of BARCC’s services are free and confidential.

  • Hotline  Our hotline counselors provide emotional support, referrals to services, and explanations of our services. You can reach our hotline by phone 24-7 at 800-841-8371 or by web chat 9:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m.
  • Medical advocacyOur highly trained and supervised volunteer and staff advocates meet survivors—as well as their friends, families, loved ones, and any professionals who accompany them—at area hospitals 24-7 (emergency rooms and intensive care units). The advocate’s purpose is to provide comfort to the survivor by sharing knowledge, offering empowering support, helping survivors talk with medical staff, and ensuring the survivor has next steps and referrals.
  • Legal advocacyOur legal team helps survivors understand their legal rights and options in the aftermath of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and other forms of sexual violence. We assist survivors as they navigate the civil and criminal justice systems, including campus processes.
  • Counseling and support groupsWe provide short-term individual, couples, family, and group counseling with licensed clinicians and trained counselors for survivors of sexual violence and their families and friends. We have groups that specifically cater to men.
  • Case managementWe work directly with survivors and significant others to assist with their immediate and long-term health, housing, financial, and safety needs. This includes providing information and comprehensive support to survivors in accessing health insurance, housing funds, emergency shelter, affordable housing, victim compensation, public benefits, and more.

Additional resources for survivors who are men