title: Claiming our place: women with serious mental health issues and support groups for abused women.
abstract: Many women with serious mental health issues also deal with abuse and have difficulty accessing services. Despite the fact that groups have been found to be one of the most useful tools in healing from the effects of abuse, many professionals see women with serious mental health issues as unable to benefit from counselling and, in particular, from groups for abused women. This study indicates that, when mental health issues are addressed and the group structures and expectations are modified to allow women control over their participation, serious mental health issues are not a barrier to participation in groups.
authors.affiliation: McMaster University.
authors.forename: Sandra L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Preston
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012944:Social Support