Women’s Health in the South East (WHISE) welcomes the Victorian Government’s launch of the Suicide Prevention and Response Strategy (2024-2034) and the Victorian Eating Disorders Strategy (2024-2031). While these initiatives represent important progress in tackling mental health challenges across the state, WHISE urges the government to better integrate a gender-transformative approach, recognising the profound impact of gender inequality on mental health and wellbeing.
“It is essential that the unique experiences and challenges faced by women and marginalised groups are properly addressed to ensure these strategies are truly effective,” WHISE CEO, Kit McMahon, said.
WHISE is pleased to see the release of the State Suicide Prevention and Response Strategy, particularly the emphasis on intersectionality.
“It is refreshing to see intersectionality highlighted; it’s crucial for the sector to understand that a person’s identity itself is not the root cause of suicide. Instead, it is the harmful and negative experiences of sexism and gender inequality, along with other forms of oppression, that contribute to this crisis,” Zoe Francis, Strategic Policy & Advocacy Advisor – Gender Equality & Mental Wellbeing, said.
“We commend the strategy’s inclusion of lived and living experiences, commitment to system-wide reform, and the whole-of-government approach, especially the prioritisation of First Nations and LGBTIQ+ led initiatives. This comprehensive approach is a positive step forward, and we are hopeful that it will lead to significant improvements in suicide prevention outcomes for marginalised communities.”
WHISE affirms the strategy’s recognition of intimate partner violence (IPV) as a contributing factor to suicide and welcomes the goal of integrating this into the implementation plan. However, there are still questions about whether this integration adequately considers both the victimisation and perpetration of IPV and family violence. Addressing both aspects is essential to ensure a holistic approach that supports victims while also tackling the root causes of violence, ultimately contributing to reduced suicide rates.
Despite these promising aspects, WHISE is disappointed by the lack of dedicated consultations with women throughout the strategy’s development.
“A clear focus on the sex and gendered determinants for people who identify as women is essential in the strategic plan. The distinction between sex and gender, and the impact of each, should not be conflated,” Francis, said.
“We believe that consultations with women would have provided valuable insights that could have strengthened the strategy and ensured that it was truly inclusive and responsive to the needs of all individuals.”
WHISE acknowledges the commitment to understanding the gendered drivers of suicide in the implementation plan but notes, “We already have an extensive evidence base on this. What we need now is action—a deeply gender-transformative, upstream approach to suicide prevention that seeks to reshape and redistribute power, reimagining the mental health, wellbeing, and social services systems that underpin mental wellbeing for people of all genders,” Francis said.
WHISE calls for a proactive approach that moves beyond understanding to applying this knowledge, creating tangible change that addresses the systemic inequalities contributing to suicide.
Similarly, WHISE finds the Victorian Eating Disorders Strategy lacking in its understanding of the gendered dimensions of mental health.
“We are disappointed that there is no mention of gender stereotypes or violence against women in the prevention measures, though we acknowledge the recognition of the ‘thin ideal’ for women and weight stigma as risk factors for developing eating disorders,” Natalie Opasinis, WHISE’s Women’s Health and Engagement Officer, said.
“Gender inequality and societal pressures play a significant role in the development of eating disorders, and it is crucial that these factors are explicitly addressed in prevention efforts to create a more comprehensive strategy.”
WHISE recognises the strategy’s focus on earlier detection of eating disorders through education and information campaigns in gyms and sporting facilities, as well as the emphasis on increasing awareness among community practitioners.
“It is encouraging to see a focus on earlier detection and increased awareness among practitioners, but this must be coupled with a strong understanding of the gendered drivers of these conditions,” Opasinis said.
“Without addressing the root causes—such as gender stereotypes, societal pressures, and violence against women—we risk missing the opportunity to prevent eating disorders before they develop.”
WHISE emphasises that any response to eating disorders must recognise and actively address gender inequality as a driver of these serious conditions. A comprehensive approach that includes education on gender stereotypes, the impact of media on body image, and the role of violence against women is necessary to effectively prevent and treat eating disorders.
WHISE is committed to advocating for these changes and working alongside the government to ensure that the strategy is as effective and inclusive as possible.
WHISE is ready to work with the Victorian Government to ensure these critical strategies effectively address the unique challenges faced by women and marginalised groups, fostering a truly inclusive approach to mental health and wellbeing.
“We are committed to supporting the implementation of these strategies in a way that centres the experiences of women and marginalised groups,” McMahon said.
“Only through a gender-responsive, intersectional approach can we create meaningful change that improves mental health outcomes for all Victorians.”
Further Information
- For information on WHISE and our work go to – https://whise.org.au/
- To learn more about our work to Improve Mental Health & Wellbeing go to https://whise.org.au/improving-womens-health/how-we-support-mental-wellbeing/
- To see our resource on gender transformative practice to improve mental wellbeing go to https://whise.org.au/improving-womens-health/how-we-support-mental-wellbeing/rethinking-mental-health/
Continuum of approaches to taking action on gender and health
