Glasgow residential service admissions of women have declined by 50% since 2022. So why aren’t more women being referred into services? Why are we missing the opportunity to help more women onto effective treatment programmes?
If we look at our Glasgow residential service, we can see that admissions of women have declined by 50% since 2022 – a substantial reduction in referrals that now sees a split of roughly 73% male and 27% female referrals.
While we don’t have a definitive answer for this decrease, we believe there may be some pervasive issues that make it harder for women to ask for help in the first place.
Firstly, women who are also mothers often fear having their children removed if they report their drug or alcohol problem. There is a much greater burden on mothers in this respect, and research published on the National Library of Medicine states that mothers were 6x more likely to have had one or more child removed than fathers. Additionally, a report by the Maternal Mental Health Alliance states that women facing drug substance use issues who are also mothers are often the most judged group of women in society, and that many feel unable to access the support they need while caring for themselves and their children.
It is for these reasons – and many others including our contribution to Scotland’s ‘The Promise’ which exists to support the transformation of how children and families are cared for – that Phoenix Futures developed family services, including Harper House in Scotland. The idea of a family service is to ensure that women who need residential treatment for drug and alcohol problems can access it without the added trauma of losing their children in the process, as their children are able to move into safe family accommodation with them. While mothers are able to access their rehab programme, children are supported through an on-site nursery or access to a local school. An added bonus is the continuation of the parent/child relationship, which is enhanced through daily routine, family activities and parenting skills classes.
But it’s not only mothers who may feel daunted by asking for help. There’s a huge misconception among the general public around what a residential rehab really is – and what it looks like. Women, particularly those who have experienced domestic abuse or violence at the hands of men, may feel intimidated by the idea of a mixed rehab – of which we do have many. Yet our Scottish rehabs feature single occupancy ensuite rooms, and many incorporate other single sex spaces, groups and activities. We also have same-sex buddy systems and allocate female key workers.
Working in the sector, it can be easy to forget that the reality of rehab is a mystery to many people. The fundamental things we take for granted are often the very things we need to be articulating to Scottish women who want to take those first brave steps towards recovery. Waiting until they arrive at rehab is too late – many won’t get there in the first place if they are concerned about losing their children, feeling judged or ashamed, or sharing a bathroom with male residents. We need to reassure them, even before referral stage, that this simply isn’t the case. We need them to be aware that we do have services designed to keep families together, that we do have single sex facilities – and that they won’t be judged.
Clearly, a significant proportion of women who enter residential rehab complete the programmes successfully. And we’ve seen many women develop stronger bonds with their children after their referral into Harper House and our other family services. We need women to feel reassured that residential rehab does not automatically mean separation from their children.
We have been working closely with our referral partners to actively challenge the misconceptions surrounding residential rehab, and we will continue to work with commissioners and frontline services to ensured that all treatment options remain visible and accessible. If we ensure that women can see behind the doors of residential rehab at the very start of their recovery journeys then we could see many more women going on to lead healthier, happier and more fulfilling lives. As service providers, we also have a responsibility to play our part too, by opening our doors, sharing honest insight into residential treatment, working closely with partners, and continuing to challenge the barriers that prevent women from accessing the support they deserve.
To find out more about our Glasgow residential rehab service, click Here,
