Abuse and Violence: Mental Health Services
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department has taken to ensure (a) GPs and (b) mental health professionals are trained in (i) identifying and (ii) responding to the (A) traumatic physical and emotional impacts of violence and abuse and (B) the specific consequences of abuse for Black and minoritised victims.
Answered by Karin Smyth
All National Health Service staff are required to complete mandatory safeguarding training which includes how to identify and respond to domestic abuse and sexual violence. This training is being revised and is due to be re-launched in early 2026. The training update will strengthen the importance of intersectional considerations, including helping staff to understand the impact of trauma and cultural barriers to discussing abuse.
General practitioners, along with other clinicians in the NHS, support victims and survivors of abuse in a range of ways depending on diagnosis and individual needs. This may include treating abuse-related injuries, referral to mental health treatment, or referral to a psychological support service such as peer support.
All mental health service providers are expected to embed the Patient and carer race equality framework. This mandatory framework supports trusts and providers to implement actions to reduce racial inequalities within their services. It will become part of Care Quality Commission inspections. The Framework is available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/patient-and-carer-race-equality-framework/
Most integrated care boards and NHS trusts have appointed domestic abuse and sexual violence leads. They comprise a national network of leaders who share good practice, identify issues and develop solutions to support victim and survivors, including those from Black and minority groups.
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