History of the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Women’s Mental Health Special Interest Group
This chapter describes the evolution of the Women’s Mental Health Special Interest Group of the RCPsych since its inception in 1996. Themes discussed. include understanding the specific needs of women patients, developing women’s mental health services, and improving the work−life balance of psychiatrists. Support for single-sex accommodation on in-patient wards and supporting carers, ethnic minority groups, and those with gender-specific and non-specific mental health problems are covered. The early establishment of a job-share register, and support for flexible training and working was followed by commitment to the gender equality initiatives of the Royal College, and following the ten-year anniversary, action through mentoring and role-modelling to support women psychiatrists aiming for top positions in their field whether clinical, academic, or managerial. The recent re-emergence of the Group under Dr Nicola Byrne and its goals for the future are described but there is still much work to be done.