THREE quarters of women’s organisations have reported an increase in demand for services since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, new research has found.

Agenda, a charity that campaigns for women and girls at risk, said that increased poverty, rising unemployment, soaring rates of domestic abuse and challenges accessing support have led to a growing crisis in mental health among women and girls.

In a report published today, all of the surveyed organisations said that the needs of women and girls had increased in complexity over the past year.

It said young women were particularly hard hit, with those aged under 25 at the highest risk of unemployment — among all people and all age groups — during the Covid-19 crisis.

Refugee, asylum‑seeking and migrant women are reported to be hardest hit by increased poverty, it added.

As part of its survey, Agenda interviewed 150 services that support the most disadvantaged women and girls, including victims of violence and abuse as well as specialist services for black and ethnic minority women.

It found that 95 per cent agreed that the pandemic has made existing mental health problems worse, while 76 per cent reported demand for their services had increased since the first lockdown in March 2020.

Chief executive of Agenda Jessica Southgate said: “Our research shows anxiety, depression and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) recorded at alarming rates, with existing mental health conditions further exacerbated by the economic and social impact of the pandemic.

“Girls and young women, and black and minoritised women and girls, have been particularly hard hit.

“Hidden demand for services, increasing complexity of need and unsustainable funding for specialist women and girls’ services will have profound consequences for society for years to come,” she said.