WELLBEING

Liptember Foundation’s mission to help Australian women

18 August, 2024 . 0

Here’s how the Liptember Foundation is helping improve mental health services for women through innovative programs and research.

One in two Australian women are currently facing a mental health issue, with depression the most common mental health illness.

Anxiety and body image issues are also prevalent, according to research conducted by the Liptember Foundation.

In a world where mental health is increasingly recognised as a critical component of overall wellbeing, taking a gender-specific approach to treatment and support is crucial to ensuring the best outcomes for women.

The mission to help Australian women

Established in 2010, the Liptember Foundation has been at the forefront of advocating for women’s mental health in Australia.

“We know women and men are inherently different in many ways, but women face a unique set of biological and societal challenges in life that can significantly impact their mental health,” Liptember founder and chief executive Luke Morris says.

“When we place a gendered lens on mental health, we see more accurate research, higher success rates of programs and more effective services.”

The Liptember Foundation has raised more than $15 million since it began, and in 2023 allocated $1.4 million from fundraising towards projects, awareness, education and advocacy for women’s mental health.

Factors impacting women’s mental health

“Biological factors like menstruation, menopause, pregnancy and birth, as well as certain experiences such as miscarriage, ovarian or cervical cancer, can each present unique and diverse mental health conditions specifically for women,” Luke says.

“But it is not only biological factors that impact a woman’s mental health; there are different life stages, socioeconomic, political and cultural factors associated with being female that have a significant impact on the prevalence of mental illness among those who identify as women.”

Programs and initiatives to support women’s wellbeing

The diverse range of programs the Liptember Foundation supports includes an equine assisted learning program for women whose lives have been affected by family and domestic violence or who are experiencing disability or mental health issues.

It has also supported programs that assist postpartum women and funded school workshops for teen girls and wellness programs for carers.

In 2024 there has also been a spotlight on the issue of domestic abuse and violence against women, after a spate of horrific crimes.

One Australian woman was killed every 11 days by an intimate partner on average in 2022-23, while 17 per cent of women have experienced partner violence.

“It still astounds and deeply disappoints me that we’re having these conversations in 2024 but, unfortunately, the reality is women are still being subject to abuse and violence across the country,” Luke says.

“The foundation will be investing directly in this space over the coming months with funds raised by our 2023 campaign, and will continue to support this space until we eliminate the need for these types of conversations in society.”

Empowering teen girls to handle life’s challenges

“This is life before you know who you’re gonna be,” croons Taylor Swift, capturing the essence of being a teen in her hit single Fifteen.

While teenage years have always been synonymous with angst, girls these days are navigating an increasingly complex world.

Mental health challenges, social media influence, body image worries and gender inequality are just some of the issues shaping their daily lives.

The Flourish Journey, previously known as Flourish Girl, was established in 2018 and aims to equip teen girls with the skills and confidence they need to navigate life’s challenges.

“The earlier we can help teenage girls build the tools they need to flourish on their journey to adulthood, the less likely they are to suffer from mental illness, body image pressures and gender-based violence,” The Flourish Journey chief executive Fiona Sanford says.

The organisation runs evidence-based workshops for girls and gender-diverse teens at Victorian schools, and has already worked with more than 20,000 participants through its programs.

“Ninety per cent of participants report feeling more connected after our workshops,” Fiona says.

“We ensure a safe space for open and vulnerable sharing, aiming for participants to leave with stronger self-worth, improved self-confidence and a better understanding of the emotional skills needed for positive relationships.”

An important collaboration

It is vitally important work given the pressures today’s teen girls face.

According to the Liptember Foundation, 48 per cent of young women aged 14 to 19 years experience body image issues, and they are more likely to suffer from anorexia nervosa than any other age category in Australia.

“Pressure to conform to societal beauty ideals can lead to body dissatisfaction, eating disorders and body dysmorphia among teenage girls and gender-diverse youth,” Fiona says.

“Students regularly comment on the pressure to be ‘perfect’ and have the ‘perfect body’ from what
they see in society.”

Funds from the Liptember Foundation have enabled The Flourish Journey to expand its impact by funding coaching and professional development and training for the facilitators who run workshop sessions.

“Liptember Foundation’s support has been pivotal in empowering our facilitators, expanding our reach and creating transformative experiences for the teenage girls and gender-diverse teens we serve,” Fiona says.

“We plant the seeds of good mental health, self-worth and resilience in our participants, guiding them towards a healthier and more empowered future.”

Be part of the conversation at liptemberfoundation.org.au.

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Written by Erin Miller.