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Impact of gender-based violence and abuse on the mental health needs of women, young people and children

Evidence from the Delivering Equally Safe (DES) funded organisations and from other studies has shown that “experiences of violence and abuse against women, young people and children can be the cause of mental ill health, and those experiences can exacerbate existing mental health issues.”*

A new report from DES looks the at evidence of the impact of mental ill health on survivors of gender-based violence and abuse. Reference will be made to independent research carried out in Scotland and evidence from the funded organisations.

It was clear from the reports submitted by the organisations funded through the DES fund that a key theme emerging is the increasing prevalence of women presenting to them with mental health challenges.

One of the organisations told us that:

“For many of the women and young people we have supported we are aware that the COVID 19 pandemic has increased social isolation, financial hardship distress and for some increased risk of sexual violence. Our work would seem to suggest that we will not see the true impact of the pandemic on young people’s mental health for several years”

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The report also shares examples of the work DES funded organisations are providing to support women, young people and children affected by gender-based violence and abuse. This support for those affected is critical. Whilst there is clearly more to be done, the work delivered by the DES funded organisations is a critical part of the support for survivors.

Read the full report here.

*Source: 6 month reporting from 121 funded projects in DES Fund for period Oct ‘21 to March ’22.