Stress is a normal part of everyone’s life because things are constantly changing. It has been defined as mental or emotional tension arising from demanding circumstances. How an individual manages this tension and the related demands can lead to either distress or healthy resolution.
In recent times, the demands have been more for many people, especially due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Some people have lost livelihoods; others have lost loved ones; others their own health and others a combination of different losses. Anger, frustration and disenchantment have become the norm for many.
Connection, certainty and control in personal lives seem mostly elusive nowadays. No wonder many are facing devastating decay to their mental health among other challenges.
As people try to navigate their unique situations, they are constantly finding themselves in unfamiliar territory that has had serious psychological and socially disruptive consequences.
For instance, before the pandemic, many people were not used to spending a lot of time at home. Suddenly, there were locked down and faced limited social interactions. Similarly, many people found purpose in their jobs and enterprises, which were suddenly lost further complicating the reality spectrum.
Immense stress due to health risks and economic uncertainty has triggered or worsened conflicts. Historically abusive relationships got worse as survivors were trapped in the same space as perpetrators, therefore facing a greater risk.
The rising prevalence of gender-based violence globally is therefore not surprising.
Poorly managed stress arising from all these situations and more is a great contributor to deteriorating wellbeing, particularly mental health. Consequently, depression, anxiety, drugs and alcohol abuse, among other mental challenges, are on the rise. These increase vulnerability to GBV just as much as gender-based violence is a predisposing factor to each, presenting the real catch-22 situation for most.
While there is no silver bullet for all these complexities, good stress management can be key to fighting GBV.
Deliberately investing time to critically analyse and develop personal life goals and plans is an important step in stress management; hence, reducing the risk of GBV. Striking a balance in physical, intellectual, environmental, spiritual, emotional, financial, occupational and social dimensions is the cornerstone of good health.
Recognising our strengths and using them to manage our weaknesses while making use of available opportunities around us goes a long way in keeping threats at bay.
In so doing, we develop self-awareness and resilience which are important in stress management through self-esteem, emotional regulation, relationship building, resourcefulness and challenging problematic social norms all of which are crucial in ensuring a stable mental status. This in turn reduces the vulnerability to being involved in gender-based violence while contributing to overall health.
Further, it is critical that the space of mental health and gender-based violence recovery services is broadened to allow more people access to assistance. Most countries, including Kenya, still lag behind when it comes to the provision of these critical services leaving many languishing in hopelessness and the attendant stigma.
Health experts and policymakers need to integrate mental health and GBV recovery support in regular client care in an effort to tackle the gender-based violence menace.
Family practitioner
[email protected] @DrJeldahMokeira
