From BMJ – November 16, 2016
People from BME backgrounds require considerable mental health literacy and practical support to raise awareness of mental health conditions and combat stigma. There is a need for improving information about services and access pathways. Healthcare providers need relevant training and support in developing effective communication strategies to deliver individually tailored and culturally sensitive care. Improved engagement with people from BME backgrounds in the development and delivery of culturally appropriate mental health services could facilitate better understanding of mental health conditions and improve access.
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Words from Southwark Wellbeing Hub – we can re-word
When you’re worried about your mental wellbeing, it can be hard to know where to start. Sometimes it can feel like there are too many options to choose from, at others, like there aren’t enough. It can be difficult to know exactly what kind of support you might need, where to find it, and how to go about accessing it.
Maybe you just need to talk things through with someone, maybe you need longer-term support, or maybe you just want to join a group, take part in local activities and meet other people who share your interests. Maybe you want to find out more about accessing care and support from the local authority.
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What Rivers can offer:
Information: We can give you comprehensive information about organisations, services and activities available in our community.
Support: We will take time to talk to you and understand the problem. We are here to help you find your way around local services and help you get the most from them.
Well-being: We can run many workshops throughout the year to help develop skills and tools that can help towards improving health and mental-wellbeing. We provide a safe space for women to come together and talk to each other and feel less isolated.
Experience: We can also organise talks by professionals from relevant organisations and indivduals who can give a personal story.
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Women’s mental health statistics – we can re-word
Mental ill health among women is on the rise. One in five women (19%) experience a Common Mental Disorder (such as anxiety or depression), compared with one in eight (12%) men.
Mental health and abuse
There is clear evidence indicating that women’s mental health is linked to their experiences of violence and abuse. For example:
53% of women who have mental health problems have experienced abuse.
More than three quarters of women (78%) of women who have faced extensive physical and sexual violence – in both childhood and adulthood – have experienced life threatening trauma, and 16% have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Over a third (36%) of women who have faced extensive physical and sexual violence in both childhood and adulthood have attempted suicide, and a fifth (22%) have self-harmed
Mental health and poverty
Women in poverty are more likely to face poor mental health, with 29% of women in poverty experiencing a common mental health disorder compared to 16% of women not in poverty.
Women in poverty who have experienced abuse are even more likely to experience poor mental health
Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) Women
Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic women face additional inequalities and challenges to their mental health, such as racism and stigma, and are at particular risk of experiencing Common Mental Disorders:
29% Black women, 24% Asian women, and 29% mixed-race women has a common mental disorder, compared to 21% White British women, and 16% White other women
Mental ill health among young women and girls
Three quarters (75%) of mental health issues are established before the age of 24, and young women have emerged as the highest-risk group for mental ill health:
A quarter of young women (25.7%) have self-harmed – more than twice the rate for young men. There is evidence this could be higher and is growing.*
26% of young women experience a Common Mental Disorder, such as anxiety or depression – almost three times more than young men.
1 in 7 young women (16-24) have PTSD (compared with 3.6% of young men).
72% of those in suicide counselling with NSPCC are girls
Suicide is the third most common reason for girls to contact Childline, and the fifth most common for boys
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https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/sep/23/how-can-we-improve-the-mental-health-of-girls-and-women
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https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-makes-womens-mental-health-a-top-priority
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Important areas to consider – can help to acknowledge womens different struggles.
Women’s Voices –
- We don’t want to tell our stories over and over again to staff in different services. We want a system in place where we can own our story but do not have to relive it and be re-traumatised.
- In some circumstances it’s just not ok to have men providing services to women, it can be intimidating and re-traumatising.
- Women with any diagnosis/label, especially those with complex needs, PTSD or a personality disorder label need gender-specific talking therapies that take our life experiences and past trauma into account; not just more medication.
- We want to be treated like human beings by staff across services; listened to, believed, our experiences validated, and treated with respect. Staff need to know that we are the experts on our own mental health and should be heard not dismissed.
- Hospitals should be places of safety and support for women in distress, but we often feel unsafe, ignored and judged on mental health wards and in A & E.
- We want a 360º holistic assessment of our needs, which might include counselling, advocacy and intensive support in the community, to ensure we can live our lives in a way that we find positive and fulfilling.
- Where would you go for help if new to an area or country? where does the information come from?.
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https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z/w/women-and-mental-health
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