10-second takeaway: White Ribbon Day is an annual event taking place on the 25th November, aiming to raise awareness of male violence against women. Nutrition and lifestyle medicine can play an important role in supporting survivors of gender-based violence, as can healthcare professionals, who should be aware of key resources and organisations that can aid survivors looking for additional support.

What is White Ribbon Day?

White Ribbon Day, also called the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, takes place on the 25th of November, signifying the start of 16 days of action. This day is an international campaign that calls on individuals, communities, and organisations to take a stand against violence targeting women and girls. The white ribbon itself is a symbol of a commitment to ending violence against women.

Here at Nutritank, we stand with females who have been victims of gender-based violence. 

Key statistics behind White Ribbon Day

Here are some important facts and figures to be aware of about gender-based violence and patient health outcomes:

• 1.6 million women aged 16 to 74 experienced domestic abuse in England and Wales in the 12 months to November 2021
• Around 5.1 million women aged 18 to 74 experienced some form of abuse during childhood
• Rates of unplanned pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, HIV are higher in women who have experienced violence compared to women who have not 
• Women who have experienced domestic violence and intimate partner violence are at higher risk of cancer diagnosis, particularly cervical cancer 
• In addition to this women diagnosed with cancer are at higher risk of domestic and intimate partner violence
• Experiencing violence and other types of abuse increases the risk of developing non-communicable diseases, including obesity, type II diabetes, asthma and eczema
• Mental health conditions are significantly higher in women and girls who have experienced abuse, including depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, borderline personality disorder, substance abuse and other psychological disorders 

The role of nutrition and lifestyle medicine in supporting survivors

Nutrition and lifestyle medicine interventions are important considerations for supporting women after abusive experiences. The chronic stress associated with surviving violence and other types of abuse can increase the excretion of vital nutrients for health, particularly B vitamins, Vitamin C and magnesium. 

Additionally, positive coping mechanisms (such as exercise, meditation and socialising) can support mental health and wellbeing of survivors of gender-based violence. Unfortunately, female survivors of abuse are disproportionately affected by food insecurity and poverty compared with other demographics. Refuge (2022) reported in a survey that 75% of respondents said the cost of living crisis meant survivors needed to use food banks for essentials, and 92% of respondents articulated that the cost of living crisis had pushed them further into debt. Research has recently demonstrated that domestic abuse survivors experiencing food insecurity and poverty had a greater risk of adverse health outcomes, such as depression, PTSD, disability, trouble concentrating, lack of hope and general decreased well-being. 

Important resources for healthcare professionals

It’s important for health care workers to be aware that many women will be eligible for the NHS healthy start scheme if they are more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, which will help them to buy healthy food and milk. Doctors and other healthcare professionals are also able to refer individuals for food vouchers that can be used at local Food Banks.

It is very likely as a healthcare professional that you will have female patients at some point who are currently, or who have experienced historically, violence and other types of abuse. It can be really useful to know where to signpost individuals who may require support:

• The NHS have advice pages and information on organisations that individuals can be referred to for support
• Refuge is a UK-based charity providing support for women who are experiencing domestic abuse. The domestic abuse helpline (0808 2000 247) can be called 24 hours a day, 7 days per week 
• Kaleidoscopic UK is a survivor-run charity that provides free groups, courses and other resources for survivors who are rebuilding their lives after abusive experiences. 

Key takeaways:

• White Ribbon Day is an annual event occurring on the 25th November and aims to raise awareness of male violence against women
• At Nutritank, we support the mission behind White Ribbon Day and recognise the important role nutrition and lifestyle medicine can play in supporting survivors of gender-based violence
• Healthcare professionals should be aware of important resources and organisations to signpost patients to for additional support

 

Looking for more high-quality lifestyle medicine education? Make sure to explore our free CME-accredited webinars and the latest series of our Nutritank podcast.

 

About the author

Alice Benskin BSc MSc RNutr is senior nutritionist at Nutritank. She has a BSc in Nutrition Science and MSc in Personalised Nutrition and has worked over the past 10 years in the food industry, agriculture, nutrition education and research. 

Reference list

Action Aid: https://www.actionaid.org.uk/blog/2022/11/01/violence-against-women-statistics-around-world

Brandhorst, S., & Clark, D. L. (2022). Food security for survivors of intimate partner violence: Understanding the role of food in survivor well-being. Health & social care in the community, 30(6), e6267–e6275. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.14064 

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UN Women: https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-violence-against-women/facts-and-figures

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