The youth mental health crisis and gender-based violence (GBV) are both topics of current media attention. However, even though experiencing violence is a known risk factor for poor mental health, these issues are rarely spoken about together. The brief outlines the effects of GBV on the mental health of young women and advocates for the need for public health approaches to decrease the prevalence of both. 

This policy brief was developed in consultation with the Prevention United Youth Advisory Group who believe that it is time to have an urgent conversation to highlight the effects of GBV on the mental health of young Australian women and to take steps to decrease the incidence of this salient risk factor. 

Recommendations

1. The Australian Government appoint a Federal Minister for Children.
2. That any conversation about the decline in the mental health of girls and young women over the last decades acknowledges the impact of their exposure to maltreatment and other forms of GBV.
3. Further research and codesign with girls and young women.
4. State, Territory and Federal Governments urgently commission a range of “prevention initiatives”.
5. The influence of the online world and the proliferation of material that reinforces gender inequality and promotes misogyny requires urgent action.
6. Education initiatives should occur across the lifespan.
7. Initiatives should be co-designed with young people and informed by evidence.
8. Recovery is prevention.