20 April 2001

Mental Health Media has been awarded £53,000 from the Department of Health to produce a video looking at the ways which Mental Health Services can best support the specific needs of women.

With women highlighted as a priority group in government policies such as the National Service Framework, this timely video will be of particular interest to those planning, purchasing or providing hospital and community based mental health services.

Issues to be explored include the link between sexual abuse and women's mental health and the mental health needs of women as mothers, i.e. post-natal depression, the impact of separation on women and children due to hospital admissions.

The video, which will be available in 2002, will highlight models of good practice and pioneering initiatives. It will also provide women service users with an opportunity to talk about their own personal experiences.

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For further information, please contact Kate Summerside at Mental Health Media on 0207 700 8171. Email kate.summerside@mhmedia.com

NOTES TO EDITORS

Mental Health Media is a voluntary organisation which promotes understanding of mental health through the voices of people in order to reduce the discrimination and prejudice surrounding mental health and learning difficulties. Mental Health Media offers a range of video and new media training materials, provides tailored media training courses and works with journalists and broadcasters to inform their coverage of mental health stories.