Gender-based Violence and Depression in Women [electronic resource] : A Feminist Group Work Response / by Deborah Western.

Introduction -- An introductory visit to a women’s journaling group -- A conceptual and contextual background for theorising and understanding gender-based violence and depression in women -- Gender-based violence against women and human rights -- Depression in women.- Feminist group work, consciousness-raising and resistance.- Women and journaling.- The Women’s Journaling Group Program (WJGP) model.- An example outline of a Women’s Journaling Group Program -- Practice guidelines for facilitating a Women’s Journaling Group Program -- Postscript -- Index.

Social workers, in whatever capacity they work, can expect to come into contact with women who have experienced/are experiencing violence and with women who are experiencing depression.  Therefore, a range of social work supports and interventions are required in order to meet the needs of diverse women and assist them in their recovery.  One of these methods is group work where women can share their experiences, learn from each other, reflect on their learnings and identify and achieve changes in their circumstances.  This book is based on original research by the author that sought to understand depression in women from a feminist and gender-informed perspective, develop a feminist-based group work response, and highlight the activities of consciousness-raising and resistance as methods for women to achieve change in their lives and in their selves.  An innovative and creative group work program, the Women’s Journaling Group Program, was developed from this research and provides a new method of working with women who have experienced/are experiencing violence and mild-moderate depression. The Women’s Journaling Group Program is research-informed, theoretically-grounded, practice-based and feminist and gender-focused. This book, and the program model within it, is an important contribution to the field of critical feminist social work practice.