Womens Mental Health Training THINKING WELL Living Well

Women’s Mental Health Training THINKING WELL, Living Well A Resource for Churches on Comprehensive Health Ministry

Healthy Relationships Behind Close Doors Written by Katia Reinert

One Woman’s Story…

Gender-Based Violence: A Global Concern Violence against women and girls is perhaps the most pervasive human rights violation that we know today.

Global Facts About Gender-Based Violence • Women are subjected to violence as women, irrespective of economic status, rural or urban, faith or geographic location. • The UN estimates that globally, at least one in three women experiences physical and/or sexual violence in her lifetime.

• Three quarters of the world’s illiterate adults are women. Countless girls drop out of school because of sexual harassment and violence, or fear of violence.

Definitions of Abuse and Gender. Based Violence “Violence against women means any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life. ”—UN General Assembly (resolution 48/104 December 1993).

Types of Gender-Based Violence § § Violence in the FAMILY Violence within the COMMUNITY Violence perpetrated by the STATE Violence by TRADITIONAL PRACTICES

Types of Violence Against Women and Girls • Physical abuse: Physical maltreatment, injury, or damage to a person. • Sexual abuse: Attempted or actual incest, rape, sodomy, exhibitionism, pornography, fondling, or forced nudity.

Types of Violence Against Women and Girls • Sexual harassment: Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. • Neglect and witnessed abuse: Neglect occurs when there is an act of negligence in providing for basic needs.

• Psychological / Emotional Abuse: Verbal or other behavior causing damage to mental, emotional or spiritual health. It can be in the form of attacks on self-esteem and sense of self, threats, name calling, shaming, lack of affection, or isolation.

Gender-Based Violence: Common Names and Types • Domestic violence or abuse • Family violence • Dating violence • Gender-based violence • Intimate partner violence (IPV) • Child abuse, neglect or maltreatment • Elder abuse, neglect or maltreatment • Rape

Gender-Based Violence: Common Names and Types • Neglect • Witnessed abuse • Spouse abuse • Battering • Child marriage • Dowry murders and honor killings • Daughter neglect/son preference • Sexual harassment

Gender-Based Violence: Common Names and Types • Forced pregnancy or sterilization, • Unwanted abortion • Sexual slavery • Forced prostitution • Sex trafficking • Inheritance customs against women • Pornography and pedophilia

HEALTH IMPACT • The ongoing exposure to abuse and chronic stress may result in disease and even death. Studies show that the immune system is less effective when there is strife and ongoing conflict between spouses.

Health Consequences for Women In adult women, violence can lead to many health problems related to stressinduced physiological changes.

Reproductive Problems • unintended pregnancies • abortions • adverse pregnancies and neonatal and infant outcomes • sexually transmitted infections (including HIV/AIDS)

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) The most common form of violence against women • high blood pressure • high blood glucose • overweight and obesity • high cholesterol • Depression • Alcohol and substance abuse • PTSD • Suicidal ideas and actions

Women who experienced rape or stalking were more likely to report: • Frequent headaches • Poor mental health • Chronic pain • Asthma • Difficulty with sleeping • Irritable Bowel Syndrome • Activity limitations • Poor physical health • Diabetes

Health Consequences during Pregnancy § § Low weight gain Anemia Infections First and second trimester bleeding § Depression § Suicidal Tendencies § Use of tobacco and / or alcohol § Illicit drug use

Health Consequences for Girls: • Depression • Alcohol and Drug use and dependence • Panic Disorder • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) • Suicide Attempts

Harm to Children • cardiovascular disease • type 2 diabetes • dysregulated immune system • substance abuse • • • depression cancer obesity overweight premature mortality

Harm to Children Victims and child witnesses of violence often experience fear, shame, guilt, and stigma. These negative emotions contribute to severe burdens of mental and emotional problems, particularly depression and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as noted by the World Health Organization in 2010.

Witnessing Domestic Violence • Witnessed abuse is considered by some as serious as child abuse • Children who witness domestic violence are more likely to exhibit behavioral and physical health problems, including:

Witnessing Domestic Violence • depression • anxiety • suicide attempts • drug and alcohol abuse • posttraumatic stress disorder (such as bedwetting or nightmares) • allergies • asthma • gastrointestinal problems • Headache • flu

What To Do • Pray for wisdom • Assess your safety and develop a safety plan • Watch and share the ENDITNOW video • Tell your own story • Help set up a shelter, or volunteer at an existing one

Prevention: Building Protective Factors 1. Include family worship in your daily schedule, and seek God’s presence as a family. 2. Make quality time for face -to-face interactions. 3. Take time to share meals as a family.

Prevention: Building Protective Factors 4. Cultivate love, kindness, courtesy and respect for each other. 5. Forgive one another.

Facts with Hope • FACT: During the years that they maintained a high level of social connectedness, strong family ties and a nurturing community, residents had a lower incidence of heart disease; • HOPE: Being part of a supportive community, such as a church family or a community of faith, can go a long way toward facilitating whole person health and helping one cope in the face of trauma or abuse.

Facts with Hope • FACT: The results of the study demonstrated that those who were lonely and isolated had a three times higher mortality rate compared to those with many social contacts. • HOPE: Make a new friend. Join a group with similar interests. Volunteer for an activity that involves you with other people.

More Hope Telephone Hotlines and Phone Apps National Hotline for Domestic Violence: 1 -800 -7997233 National Hotline for Suicide Prevention Now: 1 -800273 -8255 ENDITNOW: www. enditnow. org Some great smart phone apps: R 3 and Circle of 6 are excellent apps that can provide assistance to ensure your safety

What Does God Ask of Us? “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. ” Isaiah 41: 10 (NKJ)

A Prayer Gracious God, We know you are a God who is able. But today we come before you with heavy hearts. We will no longer ignore the abuses perpetrated against women. Empower us to help end violence against women. Give us the wisdom and the courage to end abuse —in our church and in our community.

A Prayer Remembering the immense value you, our Creator and Redeemer, place on each one of us, may we reflect your love. Give us knowledge, courage, wisdom, strength, and understanding. We ask in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Prayer “‘I am with you and will save you, ’ declares the LORD. ” Jeremiah 30: 11