Reform of the mental health system to address intimate partner violence is urgent: Lancet Psychiatry Commission Calls for Action

Description

Join this panel discussion led by Prof Kelsey Hegarty, Laura Tarzia, Sally Marsden, anonymous WEAVER survivor advocate.

Health professionals have marginalised the issue of domestic or intimate partner violence with many survivors being retraumatised when interacting with mental health services says a new report from the Lancet Psychiatry Commission. The design and settings of mental health services concentrated too much on symptoms rather than establishing what happened to women and how they can be best supported, said the Commission. Trauma and violence informed care would help to provide more targeted responses so that we are not asking patients ‘What is wrong with you?’ but ‘What has happened to you?’


“As one survivor advocate says: ‘I wish mental health practitioners would stop judging us as ‘survivors’ and see us for how strong and resilient and courageous we are. I fought the hardest to protect myself and my family from being murdered, and I should be seen as a hero for that—not pathologised by a mental health system that sees me as a problem and a victim.’