Not-for-profit Jean Hailes for Women’s Health is calling on women to make time for their health during Women’s Health Week, saying too often it’s the first thing to fall off the list when life gets busy with work, family and caring for others.
‘Do it anyway’ is the simple message of this year’s campaign, running from 7-11 September this year. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health CEO Dr Sarah White said Women’s Health Week was about acknowledging how hard it can be to prioritise your health when life is full, and encouraging women to take one step that feels manageable.
‘For many women, their own health is the first thing they put off,’ Dr White said.
‘The appointment can wait. The pain might pass. There is always someone else who needs something first. Women’s Health Week is about taking one step that feels possible. It could be booking an appointment, asking about a symptom, going for a walk or spending time with people who make you feel supported.’
Healthy environment, healthy women
Dr White said women should not have to do the work alone. ‘Good health also depends on the environment around you. That means having services that listen, workplaces that allow time for appointments, and communities that take women’s concerns seriously.
‘When those things are in place, it becomes easier for women to make their health a priority.’
Broadcast journalist, presenter and women’s health advocate Georgie Tunny, who is supporting this year’s Women’s Health Week, said the theme spoke to the habit of waiting for life to settle before making room for the things that matter.
‘I think a lot of us tell ourselves we will do the things that make us feel better once life gets a little less hectic, but the problem is that we rarely get a clear patch of time.
‘Women’s health can look different for everyone. For me, do it anyway is about making more room for connection and being deliberate about spending time with the people I love.’
Long journey to diagnosis
Endometriosis advocate Lotte Weber said do it anyway would resonate with women who know something is wrong but have found themselves repeatedly dismissed or left without answers.
Lotte was diagnosed with endometriosis at 20, years after being told she was too young to have the condition. She created an entire dress from the medical records, sick notes and scan results she accumulated along the way, making the long journey to her diagnosis something people could see.
‘I knew something was not right, but I was told I was too young for an endometriosis diagnosis,’ Weber said.
‘Doing it anyway means continuing to fight for answers. It might mean seeking a second opinion, asking another question or speaking about your symptoms, no matter the response. Women deserve to be heard when they say they are in pain.’
Women can sign up for free information and resources at Jean Hailes Women’s Health Week.
