Victoria Birch

A high-level meeting with Baroness Gillian Merron, Minister for Women’s Health and Mental Health, and Jess Asato MP, VAWG Advisor at the Department of Health and Social Care, has underlined the urgent need for sustained funding for specialist mental health support for survivors of domestic abuse, as demand continues to outstrip provision and women are left without life-saving care.

Despite repeated warnings, survivors still only have access to short-term, non-specialist NHS services that are not designed to address trauma caused by domestic abuse.

At the meeting, Baroness Merron and Jess Asato acknowledged the critical importance of trauma-informed, specialist mental health care and confirmed that women’s health will be reviewed as part of the forthcoming Women’s Health Strategy. Both recognised that without specialist pathways, survivors will continue to fall through the cracks.

Niki Scordi, Chair of Woman’s Trust, made clear that urgent, sustained funding is essential if women are to access life-changing specialist therapeutic and mental health support after abuse. Evidence from the Domestic Abuse Commissioner shows that counselling is the single most important need identified by survivors – yet it remains dangerously underfunded with no government-funded counselling support for domestic abuse survivors.

The need is immediate. Woman’s Trust says demand for its services now far exceeds available capacity, with twice as many survivors seeking help as the charity can support. At least one in two women referred to the service is currently unable to access the vital mental health care she needs.

As Woman’s Trust marks its 30th year, Niki warned that mainstream mental health services are not equipped to respond to the complex and long-lasting trauma of domestic abuse, leaving women trapped in cycles of crisis, repeat referrals and escalating risk.

She said the widespread reliance on short-term NHS cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is failing survivors. “Women are often offered just two or three sessions before treatment is being wound down,” she said. “It can feel like the plaster has been ripped off and they are left in agony, with no specialist support to help them heal.”

Niki also highlighted the stark reality facing women and girls, who are too often deprioritised within mental health services. With self-harm at record levels among young women and girls, and no clear focus on women’s suicide prevention, survivors experiencing repeated suicide attempts are being discharged without the trauma-informed care needed to keep them safe – and the cycle repeats.

Woman’s Trust provides specialist counselling for survivors of domestic abuse, typically offering up to 18 sessions tailored to each woman’s experience. This approach gives survivors agency, supports long-term recovery and is proven to be cost-effective, reducing repeat crises and pressure on already overstretched NHS services.

Jess Asato MP agreed that for survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence, CBT can deepen trauma and destabilise recovery. She called for improved data on survivor outcomes, clearer specialist pathways and suicide prevention training that reflects the lived realities of women who have experienced abuse.

The meeting formed part of Woman’s Trust’s ongoing Give Survivors Hope campaign. Alongside 100 sector partners, the charity has written to ministers demanding that specialist mental health support for survivors be prioritised within the Health Strategy, backed by dedicated funding of £27 million per year.

Baroness Merron has accepted our invitation to visit Woman’s Trust. Women and frontline staff will be able to speak directly about the real impact of the current funding gap and the urgent need for specialist, trauma-informed mental health support to be properly funded – not as an optional extra, but as a lifeline for women rebuilding their lives, and surviving, after domestic abuse.

Read the Give Survivors Hope report

“Christina’s story, I’m afraid, is not unfamiliar. The mental torture that victims are living as they wait for their day in court is all too real.” 
Sarah Sackman MP, Courts Minister 

Survivors of domestic abuse are being subjected to known and acknowledged mental harm as a result of prolonged court delays, according to the Courts Minister, after Woman’s Trust was featured on a BBC programme outlining the trauma.

Speaking on Politics London on BBC One on Sunday, Sarah Sackman MP, said the psychological damage caused by lengthy waits for justice is undeniable.

“The mental torture that victims are living as they wait for their day in court is all too real.
“What we do need to listen to is the voices of victims that we heard on that piece there.
“I hear from victims, I speak to them every day. They struggle to hold down a job, they struggle to move on in their life. And as things stand, I cannot say, in all fairness, that the system is there serving them and that is what we have got to change.”

She added that many survivors ultimately withdraw from proceedings because they can no longer endure the strain.

The comments came after a filmed report featuring Woman’s Trust clients, including Christina* and a mother, and its Head of Therapeutic Services, Sona Barbosa, examined the impact of proceedings on survivors’ mental health.

The charity is calling for Government funding for immediate specialist mental health support for survivors throughout the legal process. Too often this support is denied through long waiting lists and a lack of dedicated funding.
It has written to Ministers calling for it to be prioritised within the Health Strategy, alongside dedicated funding of £27 million per year.

The programme highlighted London’s rapidly growing backlog of cases – now standing at around 19,000 outstanding cases, the fastest-growing in England and Wales – with victims waiting months and, in some cases, years for their cases to be heard.

While outlining government investment in courts, legal aid and victim support services, the Minister conceded that the system is currently failing those it is meant to protect and said their work to speed up the process would ultimately help survivors.

“What is not fair is what is happening right now,” she said. “Victims are walking away, criminals are escaping justice, and survivors are not getting their day in court.”

In the clip played to the panel, Christina, a survivor of domestic abuse for more than 23 years, described how nearly a decade of court proceedings dominated every aspect of her life.

She said. “The toll on your mental health is exhausting – it drains you from living any quality of life.”

Christina was supported by Woman’s Trust through counselling. But the charity has twice as many survivors as it has funding for, with at least 1 in 2 women referred to us not able to get the vital help they need.

Another survivor supported by Woman’s Trust, a mother involved in ongoing family court proceedings, spoke about losing full-time care of her child a year ago while the case continues. During the process, her autistic son became suicidal and required medical help. Despite this, the court made no findings of harm and he was still removed from her care.

“It puts my son in a constant state of anxiety and confusion – and myself as well,” she said. By the time a final decision is reached, the case will have taken at least 15 months.

Sona Barbosa told the programme that prolonged court proceedings leave survivors trapped in ongoing fear and anxiety, unable to begin recovery. She called for urgent access to specialist counselling and mental health support for women to survive the trauma.

Presenter Samantha Simmonds noted that delays are affecting both criminal and family courts, with particularly poor performance in London and the South East. Shortages of district judges and social workers are compounding the problem in family courts.

Jason Lartey, President of the London Criminal Courts Solicitors’ Association, speaking on the show, said the crisis was the result of “years of underfunding and neglect” across the justice system. He pointed to cuts to legal aid, staff shortages, inefficient outsourcing, and court closures as key drivers of the backlog.

Responding to concerns that victims are being advised not to report crimes because of delays, the Minister acknowledged the seriousness of the situation.

“I hear stories of people being told to walk away and not bother reporting because of the mental torment these delays cause,” she said.
She admitted that some victims in London are currently being told their trials will not be heard until 2029 or 2030.

The full interview featuring Woman’s Trust can be watched on BBC iPlayer (at 10 minutes) Politics London – BBC iPlayer 

Read the BBC story.

*Name changed to protect identity.

Woman’s Trust welcomes the launch of the Government’s new Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) strategy today, which sets out to halve VAWG by 2034.

Niki Scordi, Chair of Woman’s Trust, a mental health charity supporting women and children’s recovery from domestic abuse, said:

“We are pleased that, for the first time, the Government’s Strategy acknowledges the importance of prevention through educating men, improving criminal justice outcomes and holding perpetrators to account, and supporting victims and survivors in the community.

“Unfortunately, the Government’s plans lack both ambition and adequate investment, offering only limited measures to address the most common form of violence affecting women and girls – domestic abuse – which also impacts men and boys. Domestic abuse represents more than half of all VAWG in the UK, with over 2 million victims each year. Beyond specific domestic abuse incidents, the majority of sexual violence, stalking and harmful practices are committed by intimate partners or family, as part of domestic abuse. After 50 years of campaigning to end domestic abuse, and 30 years of Woman’s Trust advocating for mental health support for all survivors, the Government must now go much further, with bold action and substantial investment.

“We are encouraged by the Government’s commitment that this marks only a first step, with further action to follow – a point emphasised by Home Office Minister Jess Phillips MP.

“We welcome the recognition of health as a vital pathway for identifying and supporting domestic abuse victims, including investment in GP training to improve referrals for domestic abuse survivors. Yet the Strategy remains focused on physical health impacts and crisis support, rather than addressing the recovery and top priority need for survivors: their mental health. Four out of five victims identify counselling and mental health support as their top priority (DAC, 2023), while one in two women experience mental health needs due to domestic abuse (Woman’s Trust, 2025). With domestic abuse-related suicides now outpacing homicides, we cannot again fail to respond to survivors’ mental health.

“Following our campaign to make mental health a priority, together with over 100 women’s charities nationwide, we are encouraged by the renewed focus to make VAWG a priority in the NHS, and the appointment of Jess Asato MP as VAWG adviser for the Department of Health and Social Care. She has a unique opportunity to ensure women’s trauma and poor mental health due to domestic abuse is identified and supported early, including through new neighbourhood health centres, specialist mental health training for professionals, and specialist counselling for survivors. Woman’s Trust alone has a waiting list of over 800 women, a pattern reflected nationwide. We call on the Government to invest £27 million per year to enable an additional 25,000 survivors to access life-saving counselling and mental health support in the community that they desperately need.

“We also welcome the focus on criminal justice, including investment in specialist police units for sexual violence offences. This urgently needs extending to domestic abuse, where victims are failed, with justice secured in fewer than 5 % of reported cases. Action is needed.

“To improve charging and conviction rates and give survivors the justice they deserve, women must have access to counselling and mental health support throughout the process. Currently, this is only available to victims of sexual violence and rape, and denied to domestic abuse survivors. Instead, domestic abuse survivors are re-traumatised and often blamed for not proceeding with prosecutions. The Government must fund counselling and mental health support for all VAWG victims, including domestic abuse, as a priority. The Whole Justice Approach — including specialist Criminal Justice Independent Domestic Violence Advisors, Specialist Domestic Abuse Courts, and specialist counselling – should be implemented and funded nationally, as part of The Ministry of Justice’s commitment to put victims at the centre of all responses.

“Finally, prevention through increased focus on educating boys and healthy relationships is a positive step to challenge misogyny and changing societal norms. With 1 in 5 children affected by domestic abuse and young women and girls’ mental health worsening at alarming rates, this needs to be done in conjunction with providing mental health support and counselling, extending our specialist counselling service for girls and children nationally.”

Woman’s Trust Ambassador, Suzie Kennedy, is a survivor of domestic abuse, a psychotherapist and mental health advocate. She said:

“From my own experience, access to mental health support is the reason I am still here.

“Domestic abuse does not end when the relationship ends. It leaves lasting psychological scars on identity, safety, trust, and self-worth. These legacy harms cannot be resolved through crisis intervention alone.

“Recovery requires sustained, accessible counselling and trauma-informed mental health support. If we are serious about ending the long-term impact of abuse on women, this cannot be achieved without properly funded, free or affordable counselling.

“Prevention, justice, and recovery are inseparable, and counselling is central to all three.”

We took our campaign to Westminster.

We met with Jess Phillips MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls – securing a vital opportunity to put survivors’ voices at the heart of Government.

Following the launch of our Living Without Hope campaign, backed by more than 100 partner organisations, our Chair, Niki Scordi, met with the MP to expose the critical gap in support for survivors.

Too many women are being left to cope alone – without the specialist, trauma-informed mental health support they urgently need. The consequences are devastating.

We made it clear: This cannot continue.

HALF of all women who approach the charity for essential mental health support after domestic abuse have to be turned away due to a dearth of Government spending – leaving vulnerable clients at risk of self-harm and suicide.

We’re calling on the Government to:

Make the mental health of women and children a central priority in the upcoming VAWG Strategy.

Commit £27.5 million per year for specialist, trauma-informed counselling and community-based support.

Jess Phillips listened. She recognised the scale of the crisis – and we will continue to work with her to make sure survivors’ needs are no longer ignored.

We’d welcome the opportunity to meet with Baroness Merron, Minister for Women’s Health and Mental Health, to continue this important conversation.

Niki said: “We spoke about what true recovery looks like and how this can be achieved, with support from the Government. We shared information about the major gaps in the current provision – particularly the urgent need for trauma-informed services, the access to counselling and the devastating impact on women who do not receive this support.

“We are grateful to Jess for listening, and her continued advocacy on behalf of women and girls. Our hope is that together, we can build a system that truly puts survivors first.”

The charity’s Living Without Hope report was shared with the MP, which brings together evidence, research and exposes gaps for support. It outlines that:

·       Domestic abuse is a key driver of women’s mental ill health, self-harm and suicides.
·       The lack of mental health support for domestic abuse survivors has devastating consequences.
·       The response of statutory services, including mental health, remains inadequate and ineffective.

There is an economic case for a community-based mental health response, as there is a saving of up to £11 for every £1 invested in the health response for women (NHS Confederation, 2023), with significant benefits to her family and wider community.

Further, domestic abuse costs the UK economy billions annually – with 1 in 5 women taking time off work because of domestic abuse and 9 in 10 saying it affects their performance at work.

This meeting is a powerful step forward — but our fight continues.

Together with our 100+ partners, we won’t stop until every survivor gets the essential support they deserve.

See the report here

After 14 years as Chief Executive of Woman’s Trust, Heidi Riedel will be stepping down in January 2026.

CEO of Woman’s Trust, Heidi Riedel, said: “I joined Woman’s Trust 21 years ago, with the mission to ensure we provide mental health support to every woman and child survivor of domestic abuse who needs it. I am privileged to work with a passionate and committed team of now over 40 colleagues, our dedicated Board and over 30 partner women’s organisations. Our pioneering specialist services, led by and for women, would not be possible without the trust and support of our funders and statutory partners.

“As we mark our 30th anniversary next year, our work is needed now more than ever. It is now time for a new leader to deliver our new Strategy, so that women and children can be safe and recover from the trauma of domestic abuse.”

Woman’s Trust chair, Niki Scordi, said: “Under Heidi’s leadership, Woman’s Trust has developed new innovative service models and initiatives, now supporting almost a thousand women and girls each year across London. She has worked tirelessly to amplify survivor voices and advocated for specialist therapeutic support to be made available to all survivors. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I would like to thank Heidi for her passion, dedication and contribution.

“We will shortly begin a recruitment campaign for a new Chief Executive. Meanwhile, we welcome Yasmin Rehman, who has joined Woman’s Trust as interim CEO. This is an exciting time to join us and to build on the solid foundations we have in place with Heidi’s stewardship. We wish her all the very best in her future endeavours.”

“The sessions really helped me a lot at a time when I felt very sad and isolated.”

Domestic abuse is a national public health emergency of epidemic proportions – it leaves survivors struggling with long-lasting and devastating mental health issues and is a leading driver of suicide in women.

With 1 in 4 women and 1 in 5 children being victims in their lifetime, the prevalence of domestic abuse is now recognised as a national crisis.

This World Mental Health Day, we want to make it clear that no woman should suffer in silence or alone.

We offer free trauma-informed counselling to support women to rebuild confidence and move forward.

In 2024-5, we supported 833 women across all our services:

89% had reduced stress and anxiety
94% had improved self-esteem
70% no longer had suicidal feelings
71% had not self-harmed recently.

It is vital that we respond to survivors’ mental health needs and safeguard them from the psychological damage and trauma, to enable them to recover and rebuild their lives.

But Woman’s Trust’s Living Without Hope report, which evaluated evidence and research, exposed major gaps for support:

Domestic abuse is a key driver of women’s mental ill health, self-harm and suicides.

The lack of mental health support for domestic abuse survivors has devastating consequences.

The response of statutory services, including mental health, remains inadequate and ineffective.

With the Home Office due to publish its Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy, we’ve joined forces with over 90 charities to send an open letter to Government to make sure the mental health impact of domestic abuse is finally addressed, urging them to fund specialist, long-term mental healthcare.

We are calling for the Government to provide funding of at least £27.5m per year to deliver specialist counselling and therapeutic support in the community, for women and girls.

Healing is possible. Woman’s Trust will support survivors every step of the way.

If you want to support our work, Big Give is match funding all donations this week, October 8-15. To find out more see our story.

From October 8-15, Woman’s Trust is taking part in the Big Give’s Women & Girls Match Fund – every donation will be MATCHED, meaning your gift goes twice as far.

We are aiming to raise £5,000 from our generous supporters – so we can access match funding to hit our target of £10,000.

Woman’s Trust is the leading mental health charity supporting women and children to rebuild their lives after domestic abuse — offering free, specialist counselling and life-changing support.

Its one-to-one person-centred counselling service provides up to 18 weekly, 50-minute sessions per client with a professional counsellor, trained to understand the specific dynamics and issues associated with domestic abuse.

£25 becomes £50…
£250 becomes £500…
£5,000 becomes £10,000 – funding over 100 one-to-one counselling sessions for women recovering from domestic abuse.

In 2024-5, we supported 833 women across all our services:

89% had reduced stress and anxiety; 94% had improved self-esteem; 70% no longer had suicidal feelings, 71% had not self-harmed recently.

Heidi Riedel, CEO of Woman’s Trust, said: “This year we are looking to raise £5,000 from our generous donors to be able to access the matching pot and double the amount.

“We are so grateful for any donation, big or small, to help us reach our target and support more survivors. It is vital that we respond to survivors’ mental health needs and safeguard them from the psychological damage and trauma, to enable them to recover and rebuild their lives.”

Donations will be generously matched by Big Give’s Champions during the campaign to make double the difference in supporting.

Donate here: 1:1 Counselling for Domestic Abuse Survivors – Big Give
Only available: October 8–15
Your donation will be matched — but only for ONE WEEK

When women and girls thrive, communities thrive. Help us build a fairer, safer world.

About Big Give:

Big Give is a registered charity (1136547) that runs match funded campaigns for charities and special causes at key moments across the year.

By connecting charities to match funders (like philanthropists, foundations or corporates) and the public, Big Give helps them double their donations. And, in doing so, makes an extraordinary difference to the world’s biggest challenges. It has raised more than £350m for charities to date.

“I was facing a hard time feeling depressed and wishing to die. My counsellor gives me emotional support talks and makes me see value in myself.”

Today we are marking World Suicide Prevention Day – shining a stark and urgent light on the hidden toll of domestic abuse.

Today and every day, Woman’s Trust stands with survivors to acknowledge the silent, internal battles that so many face – underlining that supporting mental health isn’t optional, it’s essential.

The statistics reveal a devastating truth:

There are more domestic abuse deaths by suicide than by homicide, with at least 2 women’s deaths by suicide a week (NPCC, 2024).

Half of all suicide attempts by women are linked to domestic abuse (City, University of London, 2022).

1 in 12 women attempt suicide, compared to 1 in 20 men, although more men die by suicide than women (McManus et al, 2016).

Of those referred to women’s organisations for advocacy support, 1 in 3 survivors identify mental health needs and almost 1 in 5 (18%) report attempting suicide or suicidal ideation (University of Warwick/Refuge, 2021).

Survivors tell us that counselling and mental health support is what they need most. Yet more than 1 in 2 survivors can’t access this support due to lack of capacity and funding for specialist services.

That’s why over 90 organisations and campaigners working across the Violence Against Women and Girls, mental health and domestic abuse sectors have signed Woman’s Trust’s letter calling for an investment of around £28m to fund community-based specialist and long-term provision.

Without free and accessible mental health support for survivors, we are putting women’s lives at risk.

Specialist counselling saves lives and changes futures – helping women find a way forward.