About GLDVP's Mental Health Project
The GLDVP began work on mental health early in 2003 having identified both a strong link between women's experiences of domestic violence and mental distress and huge gaps in services for these women. As the Department of Health report Into the Mainstream confirms, women's experiences of violence and abuse frequently lead to mental distress.

GLDVP's domestic violence and mental health training follows the our seminar (Sane Responses, 2003) and two round tables on mental health and domestic violence (2003, 2005). Sane Responses highlighted the links between domestic violence and mental distress, while finding that both service sectors often serve the same women within their own model and neglect the co-existing issue. However, studies indicate that outcomes for survivors are improved by integrated rather than fragmented service provision and that holistic service provision can maximize the effectiveness of limited resources.

Women who experience domestic violence report more symptoms of mental distress, are at greater risk of suicide (domestic violence is a factor in at least one in four suicide attempts by women) and are four times more likely to suffer from post traumatic stress than women in the general population. In addition female mental health service users are much more likely to have experienced domestic violence than women in the general population.

GLDVP has funding from the King's Fund for a two-year project to support the development of more effective and appropriate services for survivors of domestic violence and mental distress. GLDVP objectives include a commitment to:

Explore access to, or exclusion from, domestic violence and mental health services for women experiencing domestic violence and mental distress
Identify models of good practice in service provision for women facing these dual challenges
Support networking and information sharing across the dual sectors
Develop an action plan to address existing gaps in service provision
Develop a set of minimum standards for inclusive service provision
Develop a Domestic Violence and Mental Health Handbook
Deliver training for front line workers in the domestic violence and mental health sectors

Open Training Days
The Mental Health Project will be offering open basic awareness training days from June 2006. These are aimed at those agencies (both statutory and voluntary) who already work in either the mental health or domestic violence sector and wish to provide a more holistic service.

Borough Specific Training
The Mental Health Project will also offer borough specific trainings with the aim of effecting sustained long term change. These can be tailored to the needs of your borough and focus on partnership working between all agencies specifically concerned with and working on the issues of mental health or domestic violence. Details about consultancy and training options are available on request.

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Basic Mental Health Awareness Training for Domestic Violence Workers

Costs: Ł75 (vol), Ł100 (stat)

Dates: Monday 26 June, Friday 29 September, Monday 13 November 2006

Course Description:
This day will explore attitudes and beliefs around mental health, different mental health diagnoses, how these intersect with domestic violence, the legal and other issues around working with clients who have mental health difficulties, appropriate methods for asking about mental health and guidelines for good practice following disclosure.

Learning Objectives

To gain basic awareness of typical mental health issues for survivors
To explore myths and realities around mental health and domestic violence
To consider legal and other issues surrounding mental health issues
To learn how to ask about mental health issues and respond to disclosure
To learn appropriate and successful ways of working with survivors who have additional mental health support needs

Who should attend?
Priority will be given to staff from front line domestic violence services who are working with survivors who have mental health needs.

Please download a booking form if you would like to attend this course.

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Basic Domestic Violence Awareness Training for Mental Health Workers

Costs Ł75 (vol), Ł100 (stat)

Dates: Wednesday 26 July, Monday 30 October, Thursday 7 December 2006

Course Description
Participants will explore the behaviours which constitute domestic violence, the ways in which experiences of domestic violence intersect with mental distress, the complexities in leaving violent relationships, legal and child protection issues, practical examples of assessment, good practice guidelines following disclosure, safety planning, accessing domestic violence services and ideas for more integrated partnership working.

Learning Objectives

To understand domestic violence and its myths, realities and prevalence
To explore legal and other issues for consideration as a practitioner
To learn appropriate ways to ask about domestic violence and prepare a safety plan
To understand how to respond to disclosure, access domestic violence services and build effective partnership work
To understand the links between experiences of domestic violence and mental distress

Who should attend?
Priority will be given to staff from front line mental health agencies and services who wish to improve their response to clients who are experiencing domestic violence.

Please download a booking form if you would like to attend this course.

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