How the child support system risks women’s physical and mental health

Abstract

<p>The child support system is so fundamentally flawed it actually puts women at risk for financial abuse, even after leaving an abusive relationship, according to a recent report.</p> <p>The report, called 'Opening the black box of child support: Shining a light on how financial abuse is perpetrated', also revealed the current system risks the physical and mental health of single mothers.</p> <p>The report's authors heard the voices of 675 single mothers through an online survey about their experiences from the start of the child support journey, until the end. The survey questions focussed on how their decision-making was influenced by fear and how the system supported ongoing abuse.</p> <p>Although the study did not set out to examine the impact on women's health and mental health, the women's stories also revealed how the system negatively impacts women's physical and mental health. The World Health Authority (WHO) lists a number of factors that impact people's health. These are called the Determinants of Health, including income and social status, education, physical environment, genetics, and health services.</p>