Afterlight (Thea Gilmore) launches website to help others share abuse experiences anonymously

The Truth Is A Torch launched following the release of Afterlight's self-titled debut album and interview on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour. The website, according to a press release, "aims to ensure that no-one ever feels alone and help others identify the signs and recognise this often unknown form of work and relationship abuse."

A short explanation at the top of site's homepage reads: "Welcome to The Truth Is A Torch. A safe space for you to share your story of coercion, control and abuse anonymously." Since launching, more than 20 anonymous accounts have been posted on the site.

Afterlight, released in September, was written, produced and performed by Afterlight (Thea Gilmore). Speaking about the record, she said, "The saddest thing to me is that my story is a drop in the ocean. These issues that I’m dealing with are being dealt with by millions every second. This kind of coercion, this kind of narrowing of a life by someone else, this theft of self is everywhere."

"In my case, I was so young, it was all I’d ever known so I had no concept of what freedom from that control felt like until I finally managed to get away," Afterlight added. "Now, with every day that passes I get further from those boundaries that were set for me. I see what functional relationships both working and personal, based on equity and respect actually look like. I mourn for the 16-year-old in many ways and now I’m trying to figure out who I am without those walls."