Needs Assessment: Mental Health of Women & Girls
US DOH HHS Office on Women's Health
Category: Needs Assessment ›
The Solution:
CSI worked closely with OWH and a broad group of stakeholders (experts from the government, academia, service and advocacy groups) to utilize The Concept System® methodology to produce a conceptual framework representing critical issues for consideration related to the mental health of women and girls.
The concept map results were supplemented by key informant interviews with mental health experts and leaders, facilitated discussions with local providers, consumers, advocates and decision makers, and a targeted literature review.
The Results:
The outcome of this initiative highlighted eight essential categories to be addressed:
- Biological and developmental factors
- Specific mental disorders
- Trauma, violence, and abuse
- Social stress factors and stigma
- Treatment access and insurance
- Identification and intervention issues
- Health system issues
- Protective factors and resilience
A 2005 Surgeon General's Workshop on Women's Mental Health was convened to address critical issues affecting the mental health of women and girls, and to make recommendations for developing a Surgeon General's communiqués and toolkits. The workshop resulted in a set of concrete priorities for the Surgeon General, as well as suggested formats for communicating about each topic with appropriate audiences (families, providers, educators, and the general public). An example of one of the resulting communications, intended for researchers, health professionals and administrators, is included here.
