Resources for Health Professionals
- The Manchester Women's Conference: 8-9th May 2008
- Hulme Hall, Oxford Place, Victoria Park, Manchester M14 5RR
Seminar series, 8th May - 'The Physical Health of Women with Mental Illness'
Workshops, 9th May - 'Developing and Implementing Healthier services for Women in your Area'
In order to confirm a place, please pre-register: download the details and booking form.
Research suggests that people with mental illness have high rates of physical illness, much of which goes undetected. People suffering mental illness are twice as likely to die as the general population and calls for health professionals to be more aware of the physical health needs of this vulnerable group, and for better medical screening and treatment, have not led to a reduction in this risk. Women with mental illness may be even more at risk than men. All women need ongoing care and assessment of their reproductive and sexual health. Added to this, the range of poor lifestyle (lack of exercise, poor diet, smoking, substance misuse) experienced by the mentally ill, as well as pregnancy and childbirth provide further physical health risk for women with mental illness making them a particularly vulnerable population. Several recent policy directives including The Revised National Service Framework (2005); Department of Health (1999) Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation; Mental Health Foundation (2000) Strategies for Living make clear that people with a severe mental illness should have their physical needs assessed. However, many mental health practitioners have little training in physical care. Physical assessments of psychiatric inpatients by junior psychiatrists are poor, and the monitoring of physical health and health education by community mental health staff is generally unsatisfactory.
The conference and workshop days will generate discussion of how and why women in mental health services are at risk of poor health and what the service responses to this should be. Service planners and providers from health and social care, service users, carers, and advocacy groups will be present. The emphasis will be on finding imaginative solutions which are acceptable and useful to patients.
This Conference aims to develop priorities for action which will improve the physical health of mentally ill women. Progress will depend on a multidisciplinary approach from policy and health commissioners, and both mental health and primary care staff being aware of the potential responses to the problem.
