Mental health issues among female clients of domestic violence programs in North Carolina.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
OBJECTIVE: This study estimated the prevalence of mental health problems among clients of domestic violence programs in North Carolina, determined whether domestic violence program staff members routinely screen clients for mental health problems, described how domestic violence programs respond to clients who have mental health problems, and ascertained whether domestic violence program staff members and volunteers have been trained in mental health-related issues. METHODS: A survey was mailed to all known domestic violence programs in North Carolina. RESULTS: A total of 71 of the 84 known programs responded to the survey (85 percent response rate). A majority of programs estimated that at least 25 percent of their clients had mental health problems (61 percent) and stated that they routinely asked their clients about mental health issues (72 percent). More than half the programs (54 percent) reported that less than 25 percent of their staff members and volunteers had formal training on mental health issues. An even smaller percentage of programs (23 percent) reported that they had a memorandum of agreement with a local mental health center. CONCLUSIONS: The substantial percentage of domestic violence clients with concurrent mental health needs and the limited mental health services that are currently available have important implications for domestic violence and mental health service delivery.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Moracco, KE; Brown, CL; Martin, SL; Chang, JC; Dulli, L; Loucks-Sorrell, MB; Turner, T; Bou-Saada, IG; Starsoneck, L
Published Date
- September 2004
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 55 / 9
Start / End Page
- 1036 - 1040
PubMed ID
- 15345764
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 1075-2730
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1176/appi.ps.55.9.1036
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States