Saturday Mornings: “When Men Are the Silent Victims: Breaking the Stigma Around Spousal Abuse"

This week on Saturday Sit‑Down, Saturday Mornings Show host Glenn van Zutphen and co-host Neil Humphreys we tackle a deeply overlooked and often misunderstood issue: men experiencing spousal and other forms of physical, verbal, and emotional abuse. In the studio are Nick Jonsson, men’s certified coach, supervised psychotherapist and counsellor, and Zina de Mercey, psychologist‑in‑training at Counseling Perspective. Nick and Zina explain why many men—especially those in senior or public‑facing roles—suffer in silence. Stigma, shame, and fear of reputational damage often prevent them from seeking help. Many worry they will be seen as the perpetrator rather than the victim, or that speaking up could jeopardise their careers, credibility, or even access to their children. They also highlight the emotional toll behind closed doors: isolation, high‑functioning distress, and post‑Covid coping behaviours such as increased alcohol use. In highly conflicted relationships, children are often caught in the middle, sometimes used—consciously or not—as leverage, creating unsafe family dynamics. Zina brings a holistic therapeutic lens, while Nick draws on years of supporting executives and leading men’s groups in Singapore. Together, they discuss why early intervention, peer support, and psychologically safe spaces are essential for prevention and healing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.