To tackle gendered violence, Australia also needs to look at drugs, trauma and mental health

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To tackle gendered *********, Australia also needs to look at drugs, trauma and mental health

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After several highly publicized alleged murders of women in Australia, the Albanese government this week pledged

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over five years to address men’s ********* towards women. This includes up to $5,000 to support those escaping violent relationships.

However, to reduce and prevent gender-based and intimate partner ********* we also need to address the root causes and contributors. These include alcohol and other drugs, trauma and mental health issues.

Why is this crucial?

The World Health Organization estimates

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globally have experienced intimate partner *********, gender-based ********* or both. In Australia,

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have experienced intimate partner ********* by a co-habiting partner;

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of *********** children are exposed to domestic *********.

By gender-based ********* we mean ********* or intentionally harmful behavior directed at someone due to their gender. But intimate partner ********* specifically refers to ********* and ****** occurring between current (or former) romantic partners. Domestic ********* can extend beyond intimate partners, to include other family members.

These statistics highlight the urgent need to address not just the aftermath of such *********, but also its roots, including the experiences and behaviors of perpetrators.

What’s the link with mental health, trauma and drugs?

The relationships between mental illness, ***** use, traumatic experiences and ********* are complex.

When we look specifically at the link between mental illness and *********, most people with mental illness will not become violent. But there is evidence people with serious mental illness can be more likely to become violent.

The use of alcohol and other drugs also increases the risk of domestic *********, including intimate partner *********.

About

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intimate partner ********* incidents involve alcohol. These are more likely to result in physical injury and hospitalization. The risk of perpetrating ********* is even higher for people with mental ill health who are also

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.

It’s also important to consider traumatic experiences. Most people who experience trauma do not commit violent acts, but there are

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of trauma among people who become violent.

For example, experiences of childhood trauma (such as witnessing physical ******)

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of perpetrating domestic ********* as an ******.

Early traumatic experiences can affect the brain and body’s

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, leading to heightened ***** and perception of threat, and difficulty regulating emotions. This can result in aggressive responses when faced with conflict or stress.

This response to stress increases the risk of

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, developing

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(post-traumatic stress disorder), and

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of perpetrating intimate partner *********.

How can we address these overlapping issues?

We can reduce intimate partner ********* by addressing these overlapping issues and tackling the root causes and contributors.

The early intervention and treatment of

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,

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(including PTSD), and

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, could help reduce *********. So extra investment for these are needed. We also need more investment to

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, and preventing alcohol and ***** use disorders from developing in the first place.

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from occurring and supporting those exposed is crucial to end what can often become a vicious cycle of intergenerational trauma and *********.

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environments and relationships can protect children against mental health problems or further ********* as they grow up and engage in their own intimate relationships.

We also need to acknowledge the widespread

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and its effects on mental health, ***** use and *********. This needs to be integrated into policies and practices to reduce re-traumatizing individuals.

How about programs for perpetrators?

Most existing standard intervention programs for perpetrators

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the links between trauma, mental health and perpetrating intimate partner *********. Such programs tend to have

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or

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on the behavior of perpetrators.

But we could improve these programs with a

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including treating mental illness, ***** use and trauma at the same time.

Such “

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” programs show promise in meaningfully reducing violent behavior. However, we need more rigorous and large-scale evaluations of how well they work.

What needs to happen next?

Supporting victim-survivors and improving interventions for perpetrators are both needed. However, intervening once ********* has occurred is arguably too late.

We need to direct our efforts towards broader, holistic approaches to prevent and reduce intimate partner *********, including addressing the underlying contributors to ********* we’ve outlined.

We also need to look more widely at preventing intimate partner ********* and gendered *********.

We need developmentally appropriate education and skills-based programs for adolescents to prevent the emergence of unhealthy relationship patterns before they become established.

We also need to address the

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that contribute to *********. This includes improving access to affordable housing, employment opportunities and accessible health-care support and treatment options.

All these will be critical if we are to break the cycle of intimate partner ********* and improve outcomes for victim-survivors.

Provided by
The Conversation

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under a Creative Commons license. Read the

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Citation:
Researchers: To tackle gendered *********, Australia also needs to look at drugs, trauma and mental health (2024, May 5)
retrieved 5 May 2024
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