RCPsych welcomes Government's renewed Women’s Health Strategy

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Today the UK Government has published its refreshed Women’s Health Strategy for England, setting out a renewed approach to improving women’s health outcomes. 

Responding to the Strategy, Dr Lade Smith CBE, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said: 

“We welcome the UK Government’s commitment to place women’s lived experience at the centre of the renewed Women’s Health Strategy, and to address the longstanding reality that too many women have not been heard, believed or adequately supported by the health system.

“We particularly welcome the commitments to promote collaborative working between mental health and women’s health sectors, strengthening perinatal mental health care. Additionally, we welcome the introduction of a modern service framework for women and girls, and the rollout of a national domestic abuse and sexual violence referral pathway across Integrated Care Boards.

“These ambitions are a positive step in the right direction. However, delivering them will require sustained investment in women’s health and a credible workforce strategy that addresses recruitment, retention and staff wellbeing. Without this, progress risks falling short of delivering what women need.

“Listening to women should not just be about improving individual experiences of care, it must also translate into meaningful, system-wide change, backed by clear structures and accountability. Central to this is recognising women’s mental health not merely as an add-on, but as a core component of a coherent, life-course approach to women’s health. 

“Our forthcoming Women’s Mental Health Strategy will build upon the commitments outlined in the Government's Strategy by setting out how women’s mental health outcomes are shaped across the life course, in particular through hormonal transitions, the cumulative impact of trauma and violence and structural barriers that persist across health and care systems. 

“The College looks forward to working with the Government to ensure that women’s mental health remains a national priority, and that commitments announced in the strategy translate into meaningful improvements for all women.”