English Summary

The Women‘s Health Center

• was founded in 1992 by a group of female students and physicians.
• is part of the international women‘s health movement.
• is member of the Austrian Network of Women’s Health Centers − 7 member organizations.

The Women´s Health Center …

• is funded by the City of Graz, the Styrian governement  and the federal government
• Budget € 500.000 annually
• 15 staff members (9,25 full time equivalent)

 Women’s Health

Many women’s health needs differ from those of men:

• Women specific health issues such as menstruation, pregnancy and childbirth, menopause
• Health issues which differ in symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation between women and men such as heart attacks
• Health issues more often in women e.g. depression, eating disorders, health impacts of domestic violence
• Gender specific role: women are responsible for the health and wellbeing of their children, partners, for the elder generation
• Social determinants of health: women are more likely to live under poor conditions, have less power positions in society, suffer from the
  burden of multiple roles − lack of reconciliation between family and working life

Our mission is …
… to empower women and girls in all stages of life to strengthen their health and wellbeing – individual level.
… to put women’s and girls’ health on the political agenda and to work for gender specific health services and for a gender specific health care system – structural level

We work with

• women and girls regardless of Age, Race, sexual orientation, Socio-economic and educational status, cultural and religions background
• self-help groups
• professionals within the educational, social and health care sector
• collaborating partners such as NPOs, healthcare providers, health insurance companies, counseling and information centers, regional, national and international networks, political representatives, funding administrations, Media, communities

Counseling

• puberty
• menopause
• hormone treatments
• breast changes
• mammography
• early cancer diagnosis
• pap-smears
• ovarian cysts
• hysterectomy
• sexualities
• contraceptive methods for women and girls
• menstrual pains and premenstrual syndrome
• planned and unplanned pregnancy
• prenatal diagnosis
• depression, anxiety and panic attacks
• legal counseling on medical malpractice
• patients’ rights

Psychotherapy

• women specific supportive approach taking into consideration women’s conditions and roles in society
• singular consultancy in crisis
• ongoing psychotherapy
• focus on elder women, girls, eating disorders, depression, women who experienced violence
• psychotherapy with translation is also possible

Presentations, workshops, courses

• sexuality
• beauty ideals and eating disorders
• contraception, pregnancy, menopause, mammography
• training for mental health
• self management program for chronic conditions
• Qi gong
• How to find reliable health information?
• …

… and

• escorting to outpatient departments and physicians
• independent, patient oriented and evidence-based information
• brochures
• library
• statements
• website
• awareness campaigns
• referrals
• free pregnancy testing

For multipliers

• expertise, information and services concerning women’s health issues
• trainings and workshops for multipliers, women and men, in the fields of
• eating disorders
• sex education for girls
• health consequences of violence
• health literacy and health competency
• …

Consultancy in gender specific health care

• for women specific health care
• health promoting projects
• advocacy for women’ s and girls’ health interests and women and girl oriented health structures through networking
• actively participating in work groups, cooperations and decision-making bodies
• head of the Advisory Board for Women’s Health of the Styrian Health Platform
• networking and cooperation with women’s health practitioners, women’s groups, health professionals, researchers, community members, policy makers and health
• public relations and outreach

Services for elder women

• Qigong for women 60+: One meeting once a week, ten weeks long, 75 minutes, beginners and advanced, Dr.in Irmfried Skerbisch
• Stay healthy and fit till old age: once a week, 60 minutes, Dr.in Rosemarie Koban
• Wildrosen – group for women 55+: every fortnight, self-choosen topics

Chronic Disease Self-Management Program
two and a half hours once a week, six weeks long, facilitated by two trained leaders
Subjects

• techniques to deal with problems such as frustration, fatigue, pain and isolation
• exercises for maintaining and improving strength, flexibility and endurance
• appropriate use of medications
• communicating effectively with family, friends, and health professionals
• Nutrition
• how to evaluate new treatments

Other Services

• counseling, Psychotherapy
• escorting to outpatient departments and physicians
• pilot trough the health care system
• presentation on patients rights
• health information
• library
• the Women’s Health Center takes part in the Bord of Graz for Senior Citizens