Mental Health Trust mapping exercise
As part of the
Stella Project Mental Health Initiative, we are currently
carrying out an audit of Mental Health Trusts across England to
review what systems are in place to respond to survivors and
perpetrators of domestic and sexual violence who are also affected
by mental health problems.
Women who have experienced domestic and sexual violence are
significantly more likely to experience depression, anxiety, trauma
symptoms, self harm and suicide and at least half of all women in
touch with mental health services will have experiences of violence
and abuse (Department of Health, 1999 and 2000).
There is increasing awareness among mental health practitioners
of the prevalence of lifetime experiences of abuse among their
female service users, and also of the number of perpetrators of
abuse who come into contact with mental health services. There is
also anecdotal evidence of how Mental Health Trusts are improving
their responses to domestic and sexual violence. The aim of this
mapping exercise is to provide a more detailed overview of what
Mental Health Trusts are doing in relation to domestic and sexual
violence, highlight areas of good practice, and offer support to
Trusts which would like to further enhance their policies and
practice.
What we're doing
Stella Project volunteer Brenda Woodward is leading on the
mapping exercise until September 2011. She is contacting all Mental
Health Trusts in England to find out if they have:
- violence and abuse and/or domestic violence leads
- policies in place on domestic and sexual violence
- routine enquiry about domestic and sexual violence
- training on domestic and sexual violence
- a MARAC representative
If you work for a Mental Health Trust and would like to be
involved in the mapping exercise, please contact Brenda
Woodward.
Output
The above information will be collated into a briefing
document and published on our website in late 2011, as a resource
for both frontline mental health practitioners, service managers
and strategic leads with responsibility for domestic and sexual
violence.
