The Women's Ministries and Health Departments of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Spain, have inaugurated the Care Platform, to attend to the physical, mental, social, and spiritual health needs of women. The Care Platform team brings the program directly to the churches, presenting a weekend seminar on the topic of Care.
It is common knowledge that in our society, women play a crucial role as caregivers, whether in the home, in the workplace, or the community. It is easy to see how throughout history they have taken on the responsibility of caring for others and have developed skills and qualities that enable them to perform this role with excellence.
The value of women as caregivers is incalculable. Their ability to connect emotionally, communicate effectively, organize and manage time, adapt to changing circumstances, and establish meaningful relationships makes them fundamental pillars of society. Recognizing and valuing their work is essential to the well-being of those receiving care and to the development of a more just and equitable society.
Risks as caregivers
However, the risks faced by women as caregivers should not be overlooked. The importance of addressing these issues needs to be emphasized to ensure their safety and well-being. Let us look at some of them:
1. Violence.
Women caregivers are exposed to an increased risk of violence. In many cases, the caregiving relationship can become abusive, whether physically, emotionally, or sexually. Inequality of power and economic dependence often make women vulnerable to violence from those they care for. It is critical to raise awareness and provide adequate resources and support to prevent and address violence in this context.
2. Burnout and Stress
Caregiving can be physically and emotionally exhausting and women caregivers often face high levels of chronic stress. The additional workload, lack of support, and imbalance between family and work responsibilities can harm their health and well-being, adding to the mental burden they already carry. It is essential to recognize the importance of their own self-care and promote measures that enable them to balance their responsibilities and take care of themselves.
3. Health Risks
Care work can expose women to health risks, both physical and mental. Lifting and carrying heavy people or loads, exposure to illness, and lack of time for self-care and attending necessary medical appointments prescribed by physicians can have negative consequences for their present and future health. In addition, chronic stress and lack of support can contribute to the development of mental health problems such as depression and anxiety.
4. Financial hardship
Women caregivers often face economic hardship due to a lack of recognition and remuneration for their work. They often take on caregiving responsibilities without compensation or without adequate compensation, which can affect their short- and long-term financial stability. A lack of economic independence can make them more vulnerable to abusive situations and hinder their ability to care for themselves.
5. Lack of Recognition and Appreciation
Despite their fundamental contribution, the care work performed by women is often undervalued and underestimated. Lack of recognition and appreciation can undermine their self-esteem and limit their opportunities for personal and professional development. It is important to change social perceptions and promote gender equality by recognizing and valuing the vital role that women play as caregivers.
Awareness of the dangers and challenges women face as caregivers is imperative and action to address them is very necessary. As we have already mentioned, violence, burnout, health risks, economic hardship, and lack of recognition are problems that must be addressed comprehensively. Society must work together to provide support, resources, and policies that protect and value women as caregivers, ensuring their safety, well-being, and empowerment, to contribute to a more equitable and just society for all people.
The Care Platform
Aware of this situation, the Women's Ministries and Health Departments of the Church have inaugurated the Care Platform to specifically address the physical, mental, social and spiritual health care and self-care needs of women at any stage of their lives.
It aims to strengthen the functioning and effectiveness of the church community through the comprehensive care of female parishioners through a multidisciplinary and interactive platform. Its priority objectives include providing health training from the biopsychosocial and spiritual model, informing about social, labor, and health rights and the tools or resources to exercise them, and the development of sisterhood as a tool to generate safe spaces within the church community that help to overcome and endure loneliness.
It presents, therefore, topics related to the maintenance of women's integral health and the importance of a healthy life, the need and obligation to take care of themselves, and how to develop habits that contribute to a lifestyle in accordance with the Word of God.
It also focuses on the care for mental health, which encompasses managing boundaries, stress, anxiety and control, education of emotions, etc., as well as the creation of healthy bonds based on affective, effective, and assertive communication.
The platform and Spiritual Health
Regarding the importance of spiritual health, it places special emphasis on the need for an intimate and personal relationship with God and how to make the most of the time we spend with Him through our reading of the Word, for which it presents the Projective Devotional Method created by Pastor Antonio Martinez, psychologist and Doctor of Ministry.
The program presented by the Platform takes place during a weekend, from Friday to Sunday morning, and addresses the entire congregation. The churches of Torrejón-Sion (June 16-18) and Coslada-Maranatha (July 7-9) have already been visited. Visits to the Central, Levante Sur, and Aragon areas will continue in September.
ISHAH Magazine
In addition, the new issue of the ISHAH magazine, under the title "Health and Women" is already available. It is published by the Women’s Ministries Department. Orders for this magazine can be placed through the local church directors or by writing to mujer@adventista.es.
We hope and pray that both the Platform and the magazine can be a blessing to the church and an evangelism tool that allows the Lord to touch hearts for the Glory and Honor of His Name and the expansion of His Kingdom.
According to a report by Mercedes Martínez Bou, Women's Ministries director for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Spain.
revista.adventista.es/m-mujer-y-salud-plataforma-de-cuidados/