Events

Women and girls experience violence and discrimination in every society, simply because of their gender. Violence against women and girls (VAWG) covers a range of deeply distressing crimes that disproportionately affect women of all ages, abilities, sexualities and backgrounds. They include sexual offences, stalking, domestic abuse, honour-based abuse, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, honour killings, revenge porn, upskirting, the list is longer. They happen in every locality, within close relationships, in families, in communities and sadly in every society. They happen in times of peace and more so during war. The sheer scale and prevalence of VAWG is staggering.

Survivors of violence and misogyny are affected by a range of mental and physical problems as well as unwanted pregnancies. Furthermore, users of mental health services are disproportionately affected by violence. Ultimately, violence and the threats of violence interfere with women and girl’s school attendance, social relationships, being able to choose if, when and who to marry and from reaching their full potential. VAWG widens inequality and compromises mental health and well-being, further increasing women’s vulnerability. Psychiatrists themselves are not exempt from it.

This is not an easy subject to approach, but approach it we must. It cannot be adequately addressed in one isolated conference, so we consider this year’s WMHSIG’s Conference to be the first. 

We will gather psychiatrists from various parts of the world to tell us of their experience in exploring and addressing this subject. We will hear the political perspective from a distinguished UK Member of Parliament. We will attempt to talk about some of the reasons which perpetuate the problem, misogyny for example and about the need for mental health services and government policies and initiatives to align. 

Finally, we invite you to an interactive day, by the end of which we will be enriched and more determined to pursue this subject to a better outcome. 

Tickets and further information can be found on our Events page: Women and Mental Health Special Interest Group Conference 2022 (rcpsych.ac.uk)

View the programme.