Domestic abuse and sexual violence (DASV) present a major public health issue, associated with significant morbidity and mortality, especially for women who are victimised. Victims/survivors are over-represented in mental health services. DASV is associated with victim homicide, and significant mental health sequalae including, suicidality, mental health symptomatology and mental disorder. However, a historic lack of data collection and research focus has meant that we are only starting to fully understand the serious risk of brain injury amongst victims/survivors. Mental health services have an important role in a cross-sector response to DASV, however, as demonstrated in the findings of the RCPsych Women and Mental Health survey (2024), psychiatrists and mental health services are still not equipped to understand and support the needs of victims/survivors. A strong focus on education alongside implementation of national guidance are needed to improve mental health service response.
The session will focus on increasing awareness of the neuropsychiatric sequelae for women victims/survivors of DASV. It will promote new national guidance for health systems response to Non-Fatal Strangulation (NFS) and equip clinicians with practical guidance on identification and response to women with brain injury. Recognition of the high prevalence and serious harm associated with Non-Fatal Strangulation (NFS) led to the introduction of 'non-fatal strangulation and non-fatal suffocation' as a standalone criminal offence (DA Act 2021). Funded by the Home Office the Institute for Addressing Strangulation (IFAS) have developed national intercollegiate guidance, 'clinical management of non-fatal strangulation presenting outside of an emergency department setting’. Professor Catherine White (Medical Director IFAS) will present this guidance. The charity Brainkind will present their research on brain injury amongst victims/survivors of domestic abuse. Dr Czarina Kirk, Consultant Neuropsychiatrist, will describe clinical manifestations of brain injury in women and provide practice guidance for clinicians on identification and response.
Learning objectives
In this session you will:
- Gain an understanding of the serious sequalae of Non-Fatal Strangulation
- Gain an understanding of the prevalence of brain injury amongst women who have experienced domestic abuse
- Improve your confidence in undertaking compassionate 'routine enquiry' into domestic abuse, sexual violence, non-fatal strangulation and head injury in mental health assessments
- Gain awareness of key national clinical guidance and evidence-based interventions to support a best practice response to women presenting at risk of or with brain injury as a result of DASV.
Speakers
Chair: Dr Philippa Greenfield, and Dr Cath Durkin, Joint Presidential Leads for Women and Mental Health, Royal College of Psychiatrists
Professor Catherine White, Institute for Addressing Strangulation, London, Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine, London
Dr Annmarie Burns, Brainkind, West Sussex
Dr Czarina Kirk, Neuropsychiatry Faculty Member, Royal College of Psychiatrists, London
Availability
This webinar is part of the Congress webinar 2025 package. If you attended all four days of Congress, you will have access to these as part of your Congress package. Otherwise the Congress webinar 2025 package can be purchased below.
