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GLDVP : Mental Health Project

Greater London Domestic Violence Project Mental Health Project

GLDVP has recently employed a new Mental Health Development Officer, Geraldine Mason. Her background is in mental health and she will be working part-time at GLDVP mainly on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Rachel Carter will also be working on this project delivering training and managing events. We will be known as the GLDVP Mental Health Project.

Why are we doing this work?: 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. Women who experience domestic violence report more depressive symptoms, are at greater risk of suicide (domestic violence is a factor in at least 1 in 4 suicide attempts by women) and make greater use of mental health services than women in the general population. In addition women mental health service users are much more likely to have experienced domestic violence than women in the general population.

It is clear that the mental health and domestic violence sectors are often serving the same clients however few systems currently are equipped to provide the range of services needed by survivors of domestic violence who also experience mental health problems. In fact, differing models of work mean these services are often in conflict with each other. Therefore current services in Britain are limited in their approach to dealing with domestic violence and mental health as co-existing issues, and are more geared towards single provision.

GLDVP's Mental Health Project aims to: increase safe choices for women and children experiencing domestic violence by raising awareness and standards within existing mental health and domestic violence projects in London. In order to achieve this we aim to:

• develop a picture of the gaps in services for women experiencing domestic violence and mental distress, and their problems in accessing support
• identify models of good practice in providing cross-sector services
• develop a handbook and set of minimum standards for working with women who experience domestic violence and mental distress
• co-ordinate and run a regular forum to enable networking and information sharing between the sectors with the aim of improving cross-sector awareness, training and referrals.
• develop a plan of action designed to address the existing gaps in service provision

Our first task is to write a handbook on Domestic Violence and Mental Health. This will provide front line staff with the basic information they need when they work with women who may have psychological problems as a result of (or as well as) experiencing domestic violence. The handbook is also aimed at workers in mental health and other projects who may be working with survivors of domestic violence. There will also be information about: assessing new clients, sources of professional help, types of mental health problems, prescribed medication, self-harm and suicide risk.

One reason for writing this article is to invite you to say what you think needs to be done in the Mental Health Project.

• It is important that this project is shaped by people who are directly involved.
• Please let uy know what you think are the problem areas and what would improve things.
• You are welcome to contact us – phone 07851 251591 or 020 7983 5772, or email geraldine.mason@london.gov.uk

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