BY SIOBHAN HARVEY
Newcastle Institute are holding their first public forum of the year this Wednesday on Generational Changes in Women's Health.
University of Newcastle academic Professor Julie Byles will share the insights into healthy ageing that she has found from conducting the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's health.
The study started over 25 years ago and has involved surveying over 57 thousand women from all over Australia.
During the study Professor Byles noticed that mental health generally tends to improve as women age however, it is clear that COVID - 19 has taken its toll on younger women.
"Women now are more distressed than women the same age 25 years ago," she said.
"When COVID came along we found through surveying women every two weeks during 2020 and some of 2021, that the younger the women were the more they were distressed and the more they were distressed in relation to COVID."
Professor Byles said over the past 25 years women across four generations have provided a wealth of data on their lives, their health, and their health care use.
From her research there has been many interesting and useful findings, some hopeful and some concerning.
"I've been really lucky because I've concentrated on ageing, and the things that surprise me there have been less concerning and more positive and hopeful about women's adaptability and their ability to reinvent themselves," she said.
During the forum she will talk about the circumstances younger generations are facing and whether or not health care systems are up to par with women's health.
"The other thing that I think is very important is looking at our health systems and our society and thinking whether or not we have the right shaped society for who we are as people and what our life course looks like."
The forum will be held at Newcastle United Sports Club from 6pm to 7.30pm, the event is free and there is no need to book.
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| University of Newcastle academic Professor Julie Byles AO |
