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Many survivors of violence will be impacted by mental health issues—from anxiety, to depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and more: and this can make it even harder for survivors to heal, especially with the additional stigma that comes with mental health and societal barriers to seeking help.
Mental health and trauma have long been linked—and it can have a huge impact on those who have experienced gender-based violence.
But recovery is possible—even if the journey isn’t linear.
Most survivors of violence are women—and risk of violence only increases with intersectionality. According to Our Watch, 2 in 5 women have experienced violence, and 1 in 3 have experienced physical violence, while 1 in 5 have experienced sexual violence, since the age of 15. Disabled women, however, are twice as likely as non-disabled women to experience violence—and shockingly, 90% of women with intellectual disabilities have experienced sexual violence. Meanwhile, 3 in 5 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women have experienced violence, and the rates only increase for the LGBTQIA+ community, particularly those who are transgender. This violence can take many forms, including physical, psychological, emotional, financial, spiritual, and more.
Additionally, according to the Liptember Foundation, 1 in 2 Australian women are experiencing some form of mental health issue. And while not every mental health issue is caused by violence, violence can be a trigger for many mental health issues. There are many short-term and long-term impacts from experiencing violence, which can include fear, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, self-harm, shock, shame, confusion, denial, panic, withdrawal, difficulty with relationships and intimacy, flashbacks, and self-medicating.
In a report by Victim Focus, a survey found 63% of women reported mental health issues after experiencing violence, with 10% attempting to take their lives.
For those who have experienced violence and mental health issues, the shame and stigma can be two-fold—and unfortunately, this can lead to many people not seeking help for their mental health.
According to the Liptember Foundation, only 1 in 2 women will seek help for their psychological distress. This is largely due to barriers like the cost of mental health support, concerns that seeking help won’t be effective, minimising their experiences of violence, believing they can just deal with it alone, and a lack of empathy from those around them.
Other barriers might include a lack of awareness about violence and the importance of seeking help for their mental health, fear of the consequences of disclosing, a lack of trust in medical professionals, service availability, and fear of having their experiences officially recorded. There is also a lack of services that are neuro-affirming, culturally safe for First Nations people and people who are culturally and linguistically diverse, and safe for those in the LGBTQIA+ community.
Recovery is hard—and it isn’t always straight-forward. It may take a long time for someone to accept what they experienced, and accept they need help. But mental health and gender-based violence is important to talk about: because we need people to understand what violence can look like, and we need people to seek help before they reach crisis point.
By sharing our stories, we can smash stigma, raise awareness, and connect and empower our communities through our healing journeys.
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May 13, 2024
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Patricia Giles Centre for Non-Violence
A guide for women with disability experiencing family and domestic violence.
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May 13, 2024
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Patricia Giles Centre for Non-Violence
A guide for women with disability and mothers of children with disability who have experience of family and domestic violence.
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May 7, 2024
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Disability Advocacy Network Australia
Tools and information to help you find advocacy services in your state or territory.
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May 7, 2024
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Touching Base
Resources and information for people with disability about seeing a sex worker.
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