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They are not just blows: 5 effects of violence against women on their mental health

2021-11-24T19:17:06.792Z


The consequences of violence against women go beyond skin tags or injuries: it also affects their mental health. If they survive.


5 revealing facts about violence against women 1:25

(CNN Spanish) ––

One in three women in the world has suffered physical or sexual violence in her lifetime. And before you read on, stop and think of something: if you put three of your friends together, with their names and their own stories, at least one of them will have been a victim of violence. Now, if you are a woman, the outlook is even bleaker: if you have not suffered violence, it means that one out of every two friends who join you will have been a victim. "This is a stark reminder of gender inequality and discrimination against women," notes the World Health Organization on the statistic, which does not include sexual harassment.

The consequences of violence against women extend beyond the episode (or multiple episodes) itself.

Its effects are also not limited, without minimizing the severity, to skin marks, injuries or fractures.

The violence that women have been systematically victims of affects their mental health.

If they survive.

MIRA: The pandemic has worsened violence against women: 5 revealing facts

On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women we leave you five facts about how violence hits women's mental health.

Depression, Post Traumatic Stress, Anxiety, and Much, Much More

The different forms of violence against women can lead, among others, to depression, post-traumatic stress, anxiety disorders, sleeping difficulties, eating disorders and even suicide attempts, according to the WHO. And although it seems like a list of medical terms, in reality it is about diseases or disorders that profoundly affect the life of any person. "Women who have experienced violence by their partner were twice as likely to experience depression", highlights an analysis of the organization. This coincides with a key figure from UN Women: "Rates of depression, miscarriage and HIV infection are higher among women who have experienced violence, compared to women who have not."

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What is added is that even before being victims of violence, women are more likely than men to suffer from depression and anxiety.

Depressive disorders account for about 41.9% of disability from neuropsychiatric disorders among women, compared to 29.3% among men, says the WHO.

Something similar occurs with post-traumatic stress due to the prevalence of sexual violence to which women are exposed: they are the group most affected by this disorder.

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And, amid the coronavirus pandemic, this got worse.

This was mentioned by Carissa Etienne, director of the Pan American Health Organization, in a discussion.

"The social inequalities that women experience and greater exposure to violence increase their risk of mental health problems. The latter has intensified with the covid-19 crisis, causing women to have an even greater probability of developing new problems of mental health".

Suicide attempts

Traumatic stress is believed to be the main mechanism that explains why partner violence against women can cause subsequent suicide attempts.

"Exposure to traumatic events can generate stress, fear and isolation, which, in turn, can lead to depression and suicidal behavior," reads a WHO report.

Additionally, the organization indicated that suicide attempts, "which are 20 times greater than completed suicides", are more frequent in women.

Alcohol abuse is intertwined with violence

Women who are victims of partner violence are twice as likely to suffer from alcohol use disorders.

However, warns the WHO, the abuse of this substance and violence are intertwined.

Citing studies, the entity explains that there is a positive association between the experience of violence and the subsequent consumption of alcohol: "There is clear evidence that women with a history of violence consume more alcohol and, conversely, that women who consume alcohol. alcohol in harmful ways are more likely to report experiences of violence. "

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Violence against women leaves mental health consequences from an early age

Exposure to violence and other trauma during development and early life may play a prominent role "in predicting violence and depression."

In other words, women are exposed to violence throughout their lives.

In fact, gender-based violence is present in spaces that should be safe, such as schools.

Although girls and boys are equally likely to be bullied at school, girls are more prone to psychological bullying and say they are made fun of by the appearance of their face or body more often than boys, says UN Women.

Few women ask for help and there are barriers to mental health

It is easy for no victim of violence to ask for help.

This translates to a percentage that UN Women identified.

Less than 40% of women who experience violence seek help of some kind.

And those that do turn mainly to family and friends.

Very few to formal institutions.

In fact, less than 10% went to the police.

Added to this is the barrier to access specialized services to face the consequences of violence.

According to UN Women, comprehensive professional treatment is very often "not available or accessible to the vast majority of survivors."

Violence against women

Source: cnnespanol

All news articles on 2021-11-24

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