Action Needed For Women and Girls During Third National Lockdown
As the third national lockdown comes into force today, we are extremely concerned about the impact on the most disadvantaged women and girls.
6 Mar 2021
Today the Government have announced their plans for a new Women’s Health Strategy, to improve the health and wellbeing of women across England. They will be launching a 12 week call for evidence to inform the development of this strategy.
In response Jess Southgate, CEO of Agenda said:
“We welcome this announcement from the government, setting out their aims to improve women’s health and their promise to place women’s voices at the heart of this new Women’s Health Strategy. We urge that any response to women’s health recognises the ways in which poor physical and mental ill-health are inextricably interlinked. Around one in five women experience a common mental health problem, such as anxiety or depression. and more than one in two women with a mental health problem has experienced some form of violence and abuse. Without the right support, women can spiral from crisis to crisis, often using harmful coping mechanisms such as self-harm, drugs and alcohol.”
“Women and girl’s mental health has been hit hardest during the pandemic alongside a devastating spike in violence against women and girls. Young women and girls, and Black and minoritised women and girls have been particularly badly affected. Services and women have told us about the severe impact of lockdown on their mental health due to increased isolation, abuse and financial instability. Reduced services and long waiting lists for urgent services point to an anticipated surge in mental health cases when we move out of lockdown.”
“To address women and girls needs, and prevent further future harm, the Government must ensure that the mental, as well as physical, health of women and girls, is at the forefront of this strategy.”
