New pilot brings mental health support directly into domestic abuse services

A new one-year pilot is improving access to mental health support for people affected by domestic abuse by embedding mental health professionals directly into frontline domestic abuse services in West Kent.

Run by Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust, Maidstone Borough Council, and funded by the West Kent Health and Care Partnership (HCP), the pilot is part of wider system work to improve access to mental health support and was developed after identifying that some victims of domestic abuse face barriers accessing mainstream services. Cultural factors, fear, stigma, and previous experiences can prevent people from seeking help. The initiative aims to reduce health inequalities and improve access to mental wellbeing support.

The pilot places members of the Kent & Medway Mental Health Trust’s Mental Health Together workforce within the established domestic abuse drop-in hub at Trinity House in Maidstone town centre. The drop-in runs every Tuesday from 9.30am to 11.30am and brings together a range of statutory and voluntary sector partners in one location.

Andy Platt, Joint PMO Programme Officer at West Kent Health and Care Partnership, said: “This is a great example of local organisations working in partnership to help residents access the support they need. Domestic abuse can have a significant and long term impact on mental health, and by embedding mental health support within local domestic abuse services, we are improving access and providing support much earlier.”

Community Mental Health Practitioners from the trust attend the hub on alternate Tuesdays, offering information, advice, and immediate support. People attending the service can self-refer, a flexible approach introduced specifically for the pilot to improve access. In addition to the drop-in hub, the team also visits domestic abuse safe houses in Maidstone to ensure residents can access support for their mental health when they need it.

Emily Musara, General Manager at Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust, said: “This pilot allows us to take mental health support out of traditional clinical settings and into trusted community spaces. By working alongside domestic abuse services, we can respond earlier, build trust, and ensure people receive support in a way that feels safe and accessible.”

Through this approach, mental health staff can provide immediate signposting, complete e-referrals, and offer full assessment where appropriate. The assessment can also form the basis of an ongoing care plan.

Support may include one-to-one sessions, group interventions, and referrals to other services within the Mental Health Together programme. The aim is to identify needs early and connect people with the right support quickly.

Elisa Page, Domestic Abuse and Safeguarding Coordinator, Housing and Inclusion at Maidstone Borough Council, said: “This pilot strengthens the support we can offer within domestic abuse services by bringing mental health expertise directly into the space where people already seek support. It means we can respond earlier, reduce barriers, and ensure people receive more coordinated and timely support.”

Debbi Richards, Domestic Abuse Support Officer, Housing and Inclusion at Maidstone Borough Council, said: "We know that suicide is the most likely cause of a domestic abuse related death, so this pilot comes at a really vital time for people who have experienced abuse. Embedding mental health services into existing domestic abuse provisions will hopefully ensure this feels more accessible to people and enable us to offer a more robust multi-agency support network for vulnerable adults." 

Partners also hope the project will reduce crisis presentations, including attendances at emergency departments, by offering earlier support and intervention.

Through this collaborative approach, partners aim to ensure people experiencing domestic abuse receive coordinated and compassionate care. Early signs from the pilot indicate that the approach is reducing barriers, with more people coming forward for mental health support when they need it.