Exploring women’s experiences of an inpatient mental health rehabilitation service
Intended for healthcare professionals
Evidence and practice    

Exploring women’s experiences of an inpatient mental health rehabilitation service

Charlotte Rees Trainee clinical psychologist, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, Leicester, England
Sanaa Kadir Clinical psychologist, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, Leicester, England
Katherine Kidd Clinical psychologist, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, Leicester, England

Why you should read this article:
  • To recognise that many women who receive inpatient mental healthcare have negative experiences

  • To update your knowledge of the importance of gender-sensitive and trauma-informed inpatient mental health services for women

  • To understand women’s experiences of care and support in an NHS mental health rehabilitation service

The importance of providing women who experience mental health issues with gender-sensitive and trauma-informed care has been emphasised in research and policy. However, the literature highlights that many women who receive inpatient mental healthcare have negative experiences including restrictive interventions, feeling coerced to take medicines, lack of empathy and re-traumatisation. It is important to continue exploring women’s experiences in inpatient mental health services to determine to what extent the care offered is gender-sensitive and trauma-informed.

This article reports on a service evaluation conducted in 2023 at one mental health rehabilitation service in England to explore the experiences of female service users. Six women were interviewed and the data obtained were analysed thematically. Most participants reported positive experiences of the service but there were areas where care could be improved.

Mental Health Practice. 27, 4, 28-34. doi: 10.7748/mhp.2024.e1696

Peer review

This article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software

Correspondence

c-robinson30@hotmail.co.uk

Conflict of interest

None declared

Rees C, Kadir S, Kidd K (2024) Exploring women’s experiences of an inpatient mental health rehabilitation service. Mental Health Practice. doi: 10.7748/mhp.2024.e1696

Published online: 23 April 2024

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