Research into women’s health in Jersey and Guernsey is to be the topic of discussion at a seminal gender health gap event next week.
The research has found that two thirds of women (61%) say there is a lack of support and understanding surrounding women’s health issues in Jersey. More than half (52%) of respondents said women’s health issues had increased their stress levels at work and they did not feel supported in the workplace. Alarmingly, only 18% of respondents said their current workplace offered support on women’s health related concerns while 83% of respondents would like to see the topics of miscarriage, menstrual health and the menopause discussed more openly.
Marketing agency, The Brand Champions, the organisers of next week’s ‘Championing Women’s Health’, a stigma-smashing and taboo-tackling panel discussion event, has commissioned research that has produced alarming results, which highlight the need for action in Jersey around women’s health and the gender health gap.
The research about how islanders feel talking about their health, at home, with their GP, and at work, has uncovered distressing statistics. Fiona Wylie (pictured), Founder of The Brand Champions, said: “We commissioned the research to understand attitudes to female health, whether there are differences in access to health care and whether there is any evidence of a gender health gap.
“The findings make alarming reading and will provide the basis of discussion for our first ‘Championing Women’s Health’ event this coming Thursday. Our hope is that we can make business leaders and decision makers in the island wake up to the importance of having women’s health policies in the workplace, and to make sure islanders feel listened to, supported and respected when talking about a health issue – no matter what the health issue is.
“The research shows a devastating lack of support in many Jersey workplaces for employees with women’s health concerns. These concerns range from period pain (72%)*, heavy menstrual bleeding (63%)*, miscarriage (21%)*, fertility problems (17%)* and post-partum depression (16%)* amongst others. Over half of those who have experienced women’s health issues felt anxious and worried about how this might impact their quality of life and around a third were embarrassed.
“We believe by normalising the conversation around some of these taboo subjects, we can help ensure that fewer women experience these feelings and improve access to the support women need when they need it most,” added Fiona.
The event, which is taking place at the Pomme D’Or at 5pm on 17th March, will see attendees join in person and virtually, with the profits of all ticket sales being donated to gynaecological cancer charity, The Eve Appeal.
The Eve Appeal was set up to prevent gynaecological cancers and save lives by funding ground-breaking research focused on developing effective methods of risk prediction, earlier detection and developing screening for all of the five gynae cancers. In person tickets are now sold out, with virtual tickets and corporate ticket packages still available.
