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Urgent action needed to keep family violence survivors safe in hospitals

Published 8 October 2021

Women’s Health Victoria (WHV), the Women’s Mental Health Alliance and mental health consumer peak the Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council (VMIAC) have ongoing concerns about the high costs of mental health misdiagnosis to family violence survivors and the increased risk this creates to their safety.

In light of recent news reports of recommendations made by the Mental Health Complaints Commissioner (MHCC) to Mercy Public Hospital in Werribee the three groups urge immediate action be taken to prevent further risk and harms to family violence survivors already experiencing trauma.Women’s Mental Health Alliance Chair Mischa Barr said, We welcome the public scrutiny of hospitals where complaints are made, but much more needs to be done to build a more family violence aware, gender sensitive and trauma informed mental health system that listens to people about the cause of their distress.

This should be a priority for the new Victorian Mental Health Workforce Strategy recommended by the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System, as well as the new National Mental Health Workforce Strategy.

More information on the Women’s Mental Health Alliance here. 

Citation:

Women's Health Victoria, Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council and Women's Mental Health Alliance (2021) Urgent action needed to keep family violence survivors safe in hospitals. Joint Media Release. 2021 (Oct 8).

Best Practice Family Violence Women's Health Policy Young Women and Girls

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Acknowledgement of Country

Women’s Health Victoria acknowledges and pays our respects to the Traditional Owners of the land that our offices are situated on, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation.

As a statewide organisation, we also acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands and water across Victoria. We pay our respects to them, their cultures and their Elders past and present.

Read more about our Reconciliation Action Plan

Our Commitment to Gender Diversity and Inclusion

Women’s Health Victoria’s focus is women (cis and trans inclusive) and gender-diverse people. We address feminist health issues and are committed to supporting all people impacted by gender inequity who can benefit from our work. As a proud intersectional feminist organisation, Women’s Health Victoria is working towards meaningful inclusivity, guided by and supporting people who identify as women, trans, intersex and gender diverse.

Read about our commitment