The Need for Women's Services
In 2006, Kansas reported 23,077 domestic violence incidences and in 2007, Missouri reported 37, 215. Still others struggle with loneliness and stress caused by the pressures of family, work, and our fast-past culture. These circumstances adversely affect their emotions, relationships, and financial status as well as increase their need for mental health services, social support, and spiritual encouragement. Nicole Kidman summed up the need well in the June 2006 Ladies Home Journal p. 132. “It’s important to do something for women. If you help women, you help hildren and men. You help the family because women are the heart of the family.”
Abuse (see statistics below)
Conservative statistics reveal that one in four girls will be sexually abused before age 18. These abused and traumatized girls frequently grow into women who struggle with mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and post traumatic stress disorder. They will also face relational difficulties in trusting people and setting boundaries. Emotionally, these abused women may encounter guilt, shame, anger, and sadness. Physically, these abuse survivors can suffer from eating disorders, alcohol and drug abuse, and face pain disorders such as fibromyalgia. They often grow up angry with God attributing the abusive characteristics of their earthly father to their heavenly father. Related statistics reveal that 95% of teenage prostitutes have been sexually abused and that 4.5 billion dollars are spent annually on women who were sexually abused as children. In addition to child sexual abuse, one in six women will experience either attempted or completed rape. In Kansas alone, in 2001, 5,000 victims were served at local sexual assault centers. This does not include the many who never sought services or report their abuse. (See appendix for more statistics and resources.)
Similar statistics reveal that one in four teen age girls and adult women will be physically abused by their boyfriend, partner, or spouse. Almost five million women experience partner rape or physical assault and abuse annually. Accompanying the physical abuse is emotional abuse with relational and financial control that leaves these women feeling helpless and hopeless, not knowing where or to whom to turn. Much of this abuse and violence, however, goes unreported. A number of women who experience domestic violence and physical abuse in adulthood experienced some kind of abuse in childhood - either physical abuse, sexual abuse, or emotional abuse. This sets in motion the pattern of helplessness and victimization. In addition, approximately half of homeless women are fleeing domestic violence.
Depression and Anxiety (see statistics below)
At some time in their lives, as many as 20% of women will experience at least one episode of diagnosable clinical depression or some other mood disorder. This does not include many whose depression is just below the clinical threshold, but who still suffer. Even though major depression is the leading cause of disability, ahead of heart disease and diabetes, fewer than half the women who are depressed will ever seek help. Work and family stresses increase depression in women and in turn, work and family suffer from women’s depression. Sexual abuse, poverty, and hormones also increase depression in women.
Anxiety is the most common mental illness in America affecting more than 20 million people, and 1/3 of America’s mental health dollars are used to treat some form of anxiety. Women are over half of those treated. They are also twice as likely as men to suffer from panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, agoraphobia and specific phobia. This is not surprising since rape and childhood sexual abuse are good predictors of anxiety.
Abuse Statistics
- In 2001, in Kansas, local sexual assault center served almost 5,000 victims of sexual abuse (Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence).
- Nearly one in four women surveyed nationally reported they were raped and/or physically assaulted by a current or former partner at sometime in their life (National Institute of Justice and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, July 2000).
- Approximately 5 million intimate partner rapes and physical assaults are perpetrated against women annually. Most of these are unreported (National Institute of Justice and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, July 2000).
- One in four girls will be sexually assaulted before their 18th birthday (Safehome and Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault).
- Ninety-five percent of teenage prostitutes have been sexually abused (National Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse. [1992] Connecticut Affiliate).
- One in six American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network).
- Over 4.5 billion dollars is spent annually on women who were abused as children (Prevent Child Abuse America).
- Almost half of the women who are homeless are fleeing domestic violence (Kansas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence).
Mental Health Statistics
- At some point during their lives, as many as 20 % of women have at least one episode of diagnosable clinical depression that should be treated. This does not include non-clinical depression and other mood disorders. (National Institute of Mental Health).
- Approximately 12 million women in the United States experience clinical depression each year (National Mental Health Association).
- Fewer than half of the women who experience clinical depression will ever seek care. More than one-half of women cited denial as a barrier to treatment while 41% of women surveyed cited embarrassment or shame as barriers to treatment (National Mental Health Association).
- Major depressive disorder is the leading cause of disability, ahead of heart disease and diabetes, in the U.S. and established market economies worldwide (National Institute of Mental Health).
- Stress from work, family responsibilities, the roles and expectations of women, and increased rates of sexual abuse and poverty may increase depression in women (National Mental Health Association).
- Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in America, affecting almost 20 million people - or over 10 million women (National Institute of Mental Health).
- One-third of mental health dollars are used to treat anxiety disorders (Anxiety Disorder Association of America).
- Rape is the most likely trigger for an Anxiety Disorders and Childhood Sexual Abuse is a good predictor of Anxiety Disorders (Anxiety Disorder Association of America).
- Women are twice as likely to suffer from Panic Disorder, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Agoraphobia, and Specific Phobia Disorders than men (National Association of the Mentally Ill).
