Living Well

*Note* - This app is for older versions of Android. For the latest release please visit Living Well - Men's Wellbeing at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.code.livingwellv2

The Living Well app is designed to assist men who have been sexually abused in childhood. It provides practical resources, support and suggestions. The information and resources in the Living Well app draw upon research evidence and practice knowledge.

Childhood sexual abuse can have a profound impact on men’s lives and relationships. However, men who have been sexually abused can live rich, full lives, develop healthy relationships and make positive contributions within our communities.

The Living Well app is designed to complement, not replace, the work of a qualified health care professional.

*Well-being*

This section details information and strategies to improve current health and well-being. Research tells us that having these building blocks in place enhances quality of life. Included are resources related to building connections, physical well-being, learning and thinking, and living by your values. There are also 22 audio exercises for mindfulness and relaxation.

*Assessment*

The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale (WEMWBS) is used to measure current well-being.

To get a well-being score, read through the 14 questions and select the box that best describes your thoughts and feelings over the last 2 weeks. Upon completion, you will receive an assessment of your current well-being and steps you can take to enhance it. A chart plotting your results over time will help you track of your progress.

*Learning*

This section provides basic information about childhood sexual abuse, common impacts, difficulties and challenges that men who have been sexually abused in childhood or sexually assaulted as adults can face.

We have included discussions of different ways of coping, as well as questions and suggestions to help you think through and deal with difficulties.

*Managing difficulties*

This section offers suggestions to better manage common difficulties that can confront and overwhelm people exposed to abuse. Including difficult memories, avoiding triggers, feeling isolated/disconnected, sad/depressed, anxious/worrying, anger, and sleeping difficulties. This section asks you to rate your level of distress, then provides relevant information and suggestions of action you can take.

*Time2Breathe*

We can all benefit from putting aside time to breathe, to settle and physically calm ourselves. The Time2Breathe function is a valuable tool to use on a daily basis, not just when you are feeling stressed, anxious or agitated. It uses visual and auditory signals to guide you through a breathing exercise - which you can customize to your needs. A couple of minutes of breathing in time with the beats can help calm your body and mind.

*Support*

Everyone benefits from being connected and accessing support at different times. The support section contains and provides access to support line telephone numbers, links to useful websites, pre-loaded music, and a collection of calming and inspiring images.

*Blog*

The community blog link offers further information, inspiration, encouragement and hope. It's a place to keep abreast with the latest initiatives and ideas. Here you can offer encouragement and hope to other men (anonymously if you wish), and post comments, quotes, stories, inspirational images and videos. It's designed to help make the Living Well App more dynamic - ever improving and evolving.

Keywords and Tags: Living Well, trauma, male survivor, sexual abuse, assault, PTSD, mindfulness, relaxation.