Monday 17 to Sunday 23 June is World Continence Week and the Continence Foundation of Australia (CoFA) is encouraging Australians to have open and honest conversations with friends, family and health professionals.

Under the umbrella of this year’s theme “Let’s Talk”, in 2023 CoFA commissioned a consumer survey to gain insights into the community’s perceptions and experience of incontinence, the quality of life and wellbeing of people who experience it, and their carers.

Over 2,000 people participated in the survey, broadly representing the Australian population in terms of age, gender and geography.

Of the survey respondents, 74% believe that community awareness around bladder and bowel health is lacking.

Concerningly, 46% of those who have or had incontinence have not discussed it with their friends or family, increasing from the year before, and over 39% of those respondents stated it was due to embarrassment.

According to Janie Thompson, National Continence Helpline Manager, many people who experience incontinence are afraid to leave their home to do everyday activities often taken for granted.

“Whether it’s shopping, going for walks or catching up with friends, people with symptoms of incontinence may avoid going out into public all together due to a fear of having an accident, which can have a detrimental impact on their mental health.”

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Despite many people avoiding conversations about incontinence, among the 33% of respondents who had not discussed it with a health professional, most said they could be encouraged to if the professional raised it or if relevant information was displayed.

Given that over five million Australian’s experience incontinence, fostering greater conversations about the condition is crucial for reducing public stigma and building confidence for those affected.

“While sharing incontinence experiences may be uncomfortable at first, overcoming this barrier allows for greater understanding and support from loved ones.”, says Janie.

“As evidenced by those surveyed, talking with their friends and family about incontinence can have a significant impact in improving lives of the one in four Australians with incontinence.”

With World Continence Week running this year from Monday 17 to Sunday 23 June, the CoFA encourages everyone in the community, from local governments and big corporations to community groups, clubs and individuals to have open and honest conversations about incontinence. Let’s talk about incontinence.

To find out more about incontinence and how to support those experiencing it, please visit continence.org.au

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