A new women’s mental health service launched in Shepparton aims to address a gap in female-focused psychiatric care and rates of gender-based violence in mixed mental health facilities.
The first of its kind specialist women’s mental health service being delivered in Shepparton is a partnership between Goulburn Valley Health, Ramsay Health Care and Alfred Health.
The design and implementation of the new service was informed by recommendations from the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System, which found gender-based safety issues impacted women’s experiences of in-patient mental health care.
The service involves two in-patient beds at Shepparton Private Hospital and three hospital-in-the-home beds — where women are able to remain at home during treatment.
“This is a unique venture, where women from the public mental health sector can be admitted to a private setting, regardless of their insurance status,” GV Health consultant psychiatrist Rajlaxmi Khopade said.
“We also provide intensive support to women in their home, and not only to the woman but also to her family.”
Dr Khopade said women were about twice as likely to suffer from mental illness than men, and were often reluctant to seek help.
“We recognise women face challenges including high rates of sexual and physical abuse, single parenthood and poverty, which along with other social and economic inequities act as barriers to accessing mental health care,” Dr Khopade said.
Shantell Smith is a peer support worker with the service and has lived experience with mental health, substances and trauma.
She said if the service had been available to her, she could have stayed at home with her children while receiving treatment and had someone who could have helped her wider family understand and support her too.
In her role, Ms Smith helps to bridge the gap between clinician, consumer and carer, and said the service was a “massive step in the right direction”.
The service is available to women and those who identify as women aged 18 and older, with complex mental health and trauma.
Shepparton was identified for the program due to its culturally diverse community and significant First Nations’ population.
“There’s evidence that shows migrant and refugee women and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women have poorer mental health outcomes,” Alfred Health women’s mental health service director Jenny Babb said.
“It is my hope that this service and the implementation of the other mental health reforms proposed by the Royal Commission will improve these outcomes.”
Shepparton Private Hospital chief executive Rhys Jones said the service was about creating the right environment for women to seek treatment and support for mental illness.
“Women need not avoid treatment for fear of gender-based abuse and violence being yet another obstacle on their journey of treatment,” Mr Jones said.
“We’re talking about members of our communities, our workplaces and our families.”