Western Australian women and girls focus of new health and wellbeing policy

A new Women's Health and Wellbeing Policy has been developed by the Western Australian Government's Department of Health to promote better health for women and girls.

Launched yesterday (2nd September) at the WA Women’s Health Conference at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre and included representatives from the WA health sector, community groups and non-government organisations, researchers, and consumers.

Women have different health and wellbeing experiences to men and are influenced by the circumstances in which they grow, live, work and age.

These experiences mean women and girls have health and wellbeing needs that need to be specifically targeted to them. The Policy aims to better address these needs.

The Policy found four priority areas for action to guide the health system, including chronic conditions and healthy ageing, health and wellbeing impacts of gender-based violence, maternal, reproductive and sexual health and mental health and wellbeing.

Women are over-represented in mental health related issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, perinatal anxiety, depression and postpartum psychosis. They are also experience higher levels of physical, sexual abuse.

While women are more likely to live longer than men, they experience more non-fatal health problems, which lead to more many women living with illnesses and disability.

For example, symptoms of heart disease are less likely to be recognised and diagnosed, meaning it is less likely that women will receive the care they need.

Click here to access the WA Women's Health and Wellbeing Policy,