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Women disadvantaged in queue for mental health services

26 March 2008

Director of the Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre Professor Jayashri Kulkarni.

Australian women are missing out on treatment due to a lack of a gender focus in mental health and mental illness. As a result, women can receive poor treatment for disorders such as anxiety, depression and schizophrenia according to one of Australia's most eminent psychiatrists.

Director of the Monash Alfred Psychiatry Research Centre in Melbourne Professor Jayashri Kulkarni said disturbing trends in women's mental health were largely ignored and under-funded in Australia's public health system.

"The general impact of hormonal imbalance on women's psychological well-being, particularly in pregnancy, immediately after birth and at the menopause, has been described anecdotally for centuries," Professor Kulkarni said.

"But through sophisticated imaging techniques, genetic research and the ability to record electrical signals and activity in the brain, we are starting to understand more about the biological relationship between massive hormonal changes and mental state.

"Importantly, we are also identifying significant differences between men and women in the prevalence and impact of conditions such as schizophrenia.

"There are also growing environmental and social pressures on women, ranging from domestic violence to post-traumatic stress disorder, which have major psychosocial ramifications. Aggression against women is still a big issue in this country and around the world. There are incidents of physical and other assaults on women patients in Australian hospital psychiatric units, which is a totally unacceptable situation."

Professor Kulkarni presented several research projects at the third International Congress on Women's Mental Health, held at the Melbourne Convention Centre.

Global and national leaders in psychiatry, psychology, obstetrics, gynaecology, family health care, social work, nursing and community health gathered in Melbourne for this landmark event.

Professor Kulkarni said the congress, which attracted more than 1,000 delegates, also provided a forum for consumers to present their perspectives and experiences on women's mental health issues.