Mental health services for 'difficult' women: Reflections on some recent developments

The provision of mental health services to women has come sharply into focu s for providers of secure psychiatric services in the UK. Women's services are being developed in response to the known risks of mixed-sex provision, and a growing appreciation of the ways that women in secure services can be further disadvantaged by their minority status. Our intention here is to p resent evidence and reflections to help inform this development. The eviden ce is drawn from our recent work in this field, which includes carrying out a review of local mental health services for 'difficult' women, and develo ping and piloting a national training programme for staff working with wome n in secure services. The reflections we offer are informed by the convicti on that taking social inequalities into account is central to making sense of women's mental health difficulties, and improving service responses to w omen's needs. While there are signs that many mental health workers in secu re services are beginning to share these convictions, the challenge now is to provide the necessary authorization, training and support that will enab le them to translate these understandings into empowerment practice with wo men.