Source · Select Committees · Women and Equalities Committee
Recommendation 20
20
Accepted
Paragraph: 89
Offer specialist mental health support to individuals with reproductive health conditions from first symptoms through treatment
Conclusion
Individuals with a suspected or diagnosed reproductive health condition should be offered specialist mental health support from when they start to report distressing and/or painful symptoms and throughout diagnosis and treatment. Delays at each step of the process and a lack of treatment options make mental health support all the more essential.
Government Response Summary
The government highlights existing Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) providing 24/7 care and enhanced mental health pathways for victims of rape and sexual assault. It states NHS England will review and develop website content for those needing help, and will consider the committee's broader recommendations as the Women’s Health Strategy is taken forward.
Paragraph Reference:
89
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
We sympathise with anyone who is the victim of rape. Sexual assault referral centres have been co-commissioned by NHS England and police and crime commissioners since 2013. They provide a safe space and dedicated care for anyone who has been raped, sexually assaulted or abused. There are 48 centres across England and around 30,000 survivors access them each year. Sexual assault referral centres provide timely, 24/7 response to meet the urgent forensic, medical, therapeutic and psychological needs of adult and child victims of rape and sexual assault, every day of the year. They are located across the country and available for everyone. There is also an NHS page on Help after rape and sexual assault , which provides information for those who require it. NHS England will review current website content and develop information and guidance in the most appropriate and accessible format for those who need it. NHS England has also funded enhanced mental health pathways to improve care for victims and survivors with complex trauma-related mental health needs, so that they can recover, heal and rebuild their lives. We are working with NHS England and the Women’s Health Ambassador on how we take forward the Women’s Health Strategy for England (linked in ‘Introduction’ above) by aligning it to the government’s missions and forthcoming 10 Year Health Plan. We will consider the committee’s recommendations on additional topics to be considered as we take this work forward.