Womankind provides a helpline offering support to women in distress which received over 6,500 calls last year. Our face-to-face services for women with mental health problems include counselling, outreach therapy, group therapy, and a befriending service.The recent press stories of sexual abuse have prompted more women to ask for our help - almost half of the callers to our helpline have suffered sexual abuse/ assault, rape or domestic abuse. The need for our services has never been greater.
Why the community needs usWomankind is an established charity that is run by women for women in the Bristol area. Women seek our help for many reasons including, depression, anxiety, domestic abuse, sexual abuse, relationship problems, rape and sexual violence. Womankind offers confidential and non-judgemental services from our city centre location. We also offer outreach services for women in deprived areas of the city. Our resources are targeted at the most vulnerable groups of individuals who are in need of support.
Our impact on the communityThe outcomes reported by the women we help include improved mental health and wellbeing, increased confidence and self-esteem, reduced visits to GPs and a reduction in hospital admissions, improved relationships, increased independence and inclusion in the community, greater ability to cope with life and manage stress, e.g. returning to work, new skills and knowledge, and reduced incidence of self-harm. "I no longer have troubling thoughts or any desire to end my life, which feels great".