Gender-based violence (GBV) has severe mental health consequences, leaving lasting emotional scars that go beyond physical harm. Survivors of GBV, including intimate partner violence and sexual assault, are at a higher risk of developing mental health disorders like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. According to the World Health Organization, women who experience violence are twice as likely to suffer from depression. Feelings of shame, fear, and isolation often compound their trauma, leading to further mental health deterioration.
Moreover, women often face gender bias when seeking mental health care, leading to their trauma being overlooked or misinterpreted. This can delay treatment or cause women to avoid seeking help altogether. A study by García-Moreno et al. (2015) found that healthcare systems frequently fail to provide adequate support for women experiencing GBV, particularly in addressing their mental health needs. This bias exacerbates the stigma surrounding both mental health and gender-based violence, leaving many women without the resources to heal.
Ending GBV is not only crucial for women’s physical safety but also for their mental well-being. By eradicating violence against women, we eliminate a major source of trauma that fuels mental health disorders like depression and PTSD. Ensuring women live free from violence is the first step toward ending the mental health crises caused by GBV. When societies address the root causes of GBV and promote trauma-informed care, women can begin to heal, both physically and mentally. Ending GBV is, therefore, a vital step toward improving women’s overall mental health and creating a world where they can thrive.
Speak Wednesday is an initiative of CFHI to address issues around gender-based violence and gender bias.
#SpeakWednesday #EndGBV #MentalHealthMatters #SupportSurvivors #BreakTheSilence #GenderEquality #GenderBias
REFERENCES:
1. García-Moreno, C., Hegarty, K., d’Oliveira, A. F., Koziol-McLain, J., Colombini, M., & Feder, G. (2015). The health-systems response to violence against women. The Lancet, 385(9977), 1567-1579.
2. World Health Organization. (2017). Violence against women. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/violence-against-women
