A new women-only prevention and Recovery Centre: The service, its consumers, and outcomes in the first year.

Abstract

ObjectivesWomen seeking mental health care do so with unique care needs relating to their unique risk factors and sociocultural contexts. Yanna Yanna Prevention and Recovery Centre in Melbourne, Australia, is a new women-only service providing sub-acute mental health care. This study set out to report consumer characteristics and outcome data for the first year of operation of the service.MethodRetrospective medical file review was used to collect data from all admissions within the study period, including Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS). Descriptive analysis was utilised. Service operation and principles informing care at a women-only PARC are described.ResultsAll 101 admissions were analysed. Major depressive disorder and trauma-related pathology is highly prevalent in this cohort, whose interpersonal stressors frequently included family violence. Clinically significant improvement in HoNOS was seen at discharge, with Symptom, Social, and Total HoNOS scores showing the greatest improvements.ConclusionThese findings suggest this women-only PARC has a unique role in providing trauma-informed and women-centred care to this group of consumers. This study provides information relevant to improving service delivery not previously identified in the literature.