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"If I had to sum up Drayton Park in three words, it would be: love, hope and refuge."

Those are the words of a former resident of Drayton Park Women's Crisis House, whose experience reflects the life-changing impact of trauma-informed support for women experiencing a mental health crisis.

The service was recently highlighted on BBC Radio 4's Women's Hour (interview from 43 mins), where Dr Lade Smith CBE, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, discussed the importance of recognising the impact of trauma on women's mental health and creating services where women feel listened to, believed and supported.

During the programme, Dr Smith spoke about the impact that trauma and gender-based violence can have on women's mental health and wellbeing. She emphasised the importance of professionals asking about trauma, being equipped to respond appropriately, and providing support that addresses the wider factors that can affect recovery, including housing, finances, family responsibilities and physical health.

For one former resident, this approach made all the difference:

I didn't know what to expect as I had never been to a crisis house before, but as soon as I arrived I could tell I was somewhere special.
From the beautiful poetry and artwork on the walls, made by fellow service users, to the care taken with the furnishings, it actually felt like a home.
The staff were so warm, patient and wise. They had lots of helpful tips to help me cope with my emotions that I still use to this day. I felt safe. I felt I could get better.
If I had to sum up Drayton Park in three words, it would be: love, hope and refuge.

Drayton Park Women's Crisis House provides a women-only, trauma-informed alternative to hospital admission for women experiencing a mental health crisis. The service offers support in a safe and homely environment, helping women through crisis while also considering the broader circumstances that may be affecting their wellbeing.

The former resident also spoke about the sense of community that exists within the house.

Every day I looked forward to the meals. Not only were they yummy, they were a little bit magic: just like chicken soup, they nursed you better.
What I also loved was that the food brought us together. Whether you wanted to sit quietly with a book or start up conversations about everything under the sun

These experiences reflect many of the priorities set out in the Government's renewed Women's Health Strategy for England, which recognises the importance of listening to women's experiences, improving support for women affected by domestic abuse and violence, and delivering more joined-up, person-centred care.

Speaking on Women's Hour, Dr Smith highlighted how trauma-informed services can help women feel safe, heard and supported while also addressing the wider factors that can affect recovery. She spoke about the importance of ensuring women can access mental health support alongside help with issues such as housing, finances, physical health and caring responsibilities.

Many of these principles have long been part of the approach at Drayton Park Women's Crisis House, where staff work alongside women to understand their experiences, support recovery and help connect them with the services they need.

Shirley McNicholas (pictured), Team Manager at Drayton Park Women's Crisis House and member of the Women's Lead and Trauma-Informed Strategic Leadership Team, said:

It was wonderful to hear Dr Lade Smith highlight the Drayton Park model on national radio. The themes discussed on Women's Hour are at the heart of what we do every day.
Many women come to us at a point of crisis having experienced trauma, adversity or life-changing events. Our role is to provide a safe, compassionate environment where women feel listened to, believed and supported.
Recovery is about much more than mental health treatment alone. It's about helping women rebuild confidence, reconnect with support and move forward with hope. We're proud that the Drayton Park model continues to contribute to wider conversations about women's mental health and trauma-informed care.

To support this work locally, we are planning a Women's Health Event on 13 October, which will launch the Trust's work in response to the strategy and showcase services that support women across the organisation, including perinatal mental health services and other specialist support for women.

Find out more about Drayton Park here.