Mental health, sexual violence and the work of Sexual Assault Referral centres (SARCs) in England

• The mental health of rape victims should be properly assessed.
• In a survey of SARCs less than half undertook a mental health risk assessment.
• SARCs experienced problems in accessing mental health services for their clients.
• NHS England should provide fuller guidance on mental health risk assessment.
• More research is required for those attending SARCs with mental health problems.

There is a clear link between mental health status both before and after rape. It is known, for example, that approximately 40% of attendees to a Sexual Assault Referral centre (SARC) are already known to mental health services. Sexual Violence can also lead to the development of a mental illness. SARCs have been established, inter alia, to provide healthcare to the victims of rape where a mental health risk assessment should be undertaken. All 37 SARCs in England where asked to complete a short survey and a response rate of 68% was achieved. A high proportion (40%) of SACRs clients are already known to mental health services, however, only just under half of SARCs routinely assess mental health and when such an assessment is completed this is by an FME and substance misuse issues are not always included. Almost two-thirds of SARC services report problems in referring on to mental health services for a variety of reasons. More research is needed in this important area and NHS England should fully define the skills required to undertake a mental health risk assessment when someone has been the victim of rape.