The contribution of mental health services to a new strategic direction for sexual assault and abuse services

Brooker, Charlie; Edmondson, Amanda; Hughes, Elizabeth

doi:10.1016/j.jflm.2019.04.001

Cited by 5 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Brooker, Edmondson 126 In this study of mental health services in the UK, only 16% reported having a formal referral pathway with a sexual assault service.…”

Section: Study Type 5: Mixed-methods Studymentioning

confidence: 83%

“…Brooker, Edmondson 126 In a study of mental health services in the UK, only 7% reported having a strategy in place that addresses the needs of sexual assault survivors, and 32% reported training their staff in assessing trauma experienced by their clients, including sexual assault and sexual abuse.…”

Section: Study Type 5: Mixed-methods Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In a study of mental health services in the UK, 7% reported having a strategy in place that addresses the needs of sexual assault survivors, and 32% reported training their staff in assessing trauma experienced by their clients, including sexual assault and sexual abuse. 126 Furthermore, the rates at which mental health practitioners reported asking their clients about potential childhood sexual abuse or sexual assault histories varied considerably, ranging from 37% 127 to 100%. 120 Given the intersection between sexual assault and mental health outcomes, staff of sexual assault services should be trained in discussing their client's mental health history.…”

Section: Key Learning 4: Staffing Capabilities and Qualificationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…110 Referral pathways and service availability may also be limited in rural and remote communities. In Brooker et al's (2019) 126 study of mental health services in the UK, only 16% reported having a formal referral pathway with a sexual assault service. Similarly, sexual assault referral centres in the UK reported difficulties in referring their clients to mental health services due to a lack of referral pathways and a lack of partnerships between sexual assault and mental health services.…”

Section: Key Learning 5: Coordination Between Sectors and Service Pro...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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The intersections between mental health and sexual assault and abuse

Breckenridge¹,

Suchting²,

Singh³

et al. 2019

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This review examined the intersections between mental health and sexual assault and abuse. It aimed to identify key learnings related to service delivery and responses to improve mental health outcomes for people impacted by sexual assault and abuse. It reviewed themes related to sexual abuse and/or assault and mental illness in adulthood including assistance seeking, negative responses to disclosure and risk factors for poorer mental health among survivors. In relation to service delivery and responses, key themes included: important principles of care, service and support availability, trauma-informed models, staffing, coordination between sectors and providers and holistic approaches to care. Significant gaps in the evidence were found related to people with disability, older people, refugees and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

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“…Brooker, Edmondson 126 In this study of mental health services in the UK, only 16% reported having a formal referral pathway with a sexual assault service.…”

Section: Study Type 5: Mixed-methods Studymentioning

confidence: 83%

Section: Study Type 5: Mixed-methods Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Key Learning 4: Staffing Capabilities and Qualificationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Key Learning 5: Coordination Between Sectors and Service Pro...mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

The intersections between mental health and sexual assault and abuse

Breckenridge¹,

Suchting²,

Singh³

et al. 2019

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“…There is a high prevalence of sexual assault experienced by people with mental health issues; however, very few mental health services have reported a pathway to SARCs following a disclosure of a sexual assault. 44 In addition, in WP5 we identified that, over a period of 10 years in one NHS mental health trust alone, 3000 women who had received some form of psychological therapy input (as indicated by CORE-10 outcome data) had a case note indication that they had experienced sexual assault. It is not known whether the psychological therapy was because of the impact of sexual assault or other reasons and, even if it was related to the sexual assault, whether it was the correct therapy (i.e.…”

Section: Pre-sexual Assault Referral Centre: Lack Of Prior Awareness ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

The effectiveness of sexual assault referral centres with regard to mental health and substance use: a national mixed-methods study – the MiMoS Study

Hughes,

Domoney,

Knights

et al. 2023

Health Soc Care Deliv Res

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Background Sexual assault referral centres have been established to provide an integrated service that includes forensic examination, health interventions and emotional support. However, it is unclear how the mental health and substance use needs are being addressed. Aim To identify what works for whom under what circumstances for people with mental health or substance use issues who attend sexual assault referral centres. Setting and sample Staff and adult survivors in English sexual assault referral centres and partner agency staff. Design A mixed-method multistage study using realist methodology comprising five work packages. This consisted of a systematic review and realist synthesis (work package 1); a national audit of sexual assault referral centres (work package 2); a cross-sectional prevalence study of mental health and drug and alcohol needs (work package 3); case studies in six sexual assault referral centre settings (work package 4), partner agencies and survivors; and secondary data analysis of outcomes of therapy for sexual assault survivors (work package 5). Findings There is a paucity of evidence identified in the review to support specific ways of addressing mental health and substance use. There is limited mental health expertise in sexual assault referral centres and limited use of screening tools based on the audit. In the prevalence study, participants (n = 78) reported high levels of psychological distress one to six weeks after sexual assault referral centre attendance (94% of people had symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder). From work package 4 qualitative analysis, survivors identified how trauma-informed care potentially reduced risk of re-traumatisation. Sexual assault referral centre staff found having someone with mental health expertise in the team helpful not only in helping plan onward referrals but also in supporting staff. Both sexual assault referral centre staff and survivors highlighted challenges in onward referral, particularly to NHS mental health care, including gaps in provision and long waiting times. Work package 5 analysis demonstrated that people with recorded sexual assault had higher levels of baseline psychological distress and received more therapy but their average change scores at end point were similar to those without sexual trauma. Limitations The study was adversely affected by the pandemic. The data were collected during successive lockdowns when services were not operating as usual, as well as the overlay of anxiety and isolation due to the pandemic. Conclusions People who attend sexual assault centres have significant mental health and substance use needs. However, sexual assault referral centres vary in how they address these issues. Access to follow-up support from mental health services needs to be improved (especially for those deemed to have ‘complex’ needs) and there is some indication that co-located psychological therapies provision improves the survivor experience. Routine data analysis demonstrated that those with sexual assault can benefit from therapy but require more intensity than those without sexual assault. Future work Further research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of providing co-located psychological therapy in the sexual assault referral centres, as well as evaluating the long-term needs and outcomes of people who attend these centres. Funding This project was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health and Social Care Delivery Research programme (16/117/03) and is published in full in Health and Social Care Delivery Research; Vol. 11, No. 21. Trial registration This trial is registered as PROSPERO 2018 CRD42018119706 and ISRCTN 18208347.

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