One of the three key objectives of this network is developing a better understanding of the pathways that lead to domestic and sexual violence and their relationship to mental health problems.
Prevention and treatment of mental health problems requires an understanding of the causal pathways to DV and SV and mental health problems, so that interventions can be appropriately targeted. People with mental health problems are particularly likely to have experienced childhood abuse, witnessed parental violence and, as adults, experienced DV or SV. There have been calls for mental health services to support survivors of child and adulthood abuse in mental health care by using a trauma-informed approach, but the evidence on how best to do this is limited. Prevention also requires institutional reforms in health, culture, media, technology and schools as well as strategic planning and specialised victim support.
Mental disorders are also associated with a doubling of the risk of perpetration of violence. There is some evidence of associations between mental disorders and DV perpetration; this literature is, however, hampered by significant methodological limitations including a failure to examine the type, severity, and impact of DV, and by a lack of longitudinal research.
Therefore, we will be researching both violence victimisation and perpetration in this collaborative network on violence, abuse and mental health in order to gain a better understanding of the relationship between these issues.
There are currently a number of ongoing projects centred around this theme.
Prevention and treatment of mental health problems requires an understanding of the causal pathways to DV and SV and mental health problems, so that interventions can be appropriately targeted. People with mental health problems are particularly likely to have experienced childhood abuse, witnessed parental violence and, as adults, experienced DV or SV. There have been calls for mental health services to support survivors of child and adulthood abuse in mental health care by using a trauma-informed approach, but the evidence on how best to do this is limited. Prevention also requires institutional reforms in health, culture, media, technology and schools as well as strategic planning and specialised victim support.
Mental disorders are also associated with a doubling of the risk of perpetration of violence. There is some evidence of associations between mental disorders and DV perpetration; this literature is, however, hampered by significant methodological limitations including a failure to examine the type, severity, and impact of DV, and by a lack of longitudinal research.
Therefore, we will be researching both violence victimisation and perpetration in this collaborative network on violence, abuse and mental health in order to gain a better understanding of the relationship between these issues.
There are currently a number of ongoing projects centred around this theme.