Women's History Month: Women Treating Women

In this episode, Dr Tina Rizkallah discusses the complexities of women's mental health care with Dr Karen Williams and Dr Rajlaxmi Khopade. They explore the systemic barriers and unique challenges that women face, emphasising  the importance of gender-specific and trauma-informed care. The conversation also highlights the need for dedicated services that address the specific mental health needs of women, particularly those who have experienced trauma, family violence, and other systemic issues. They advocate for better training, stronger community support and greater collaboration among mental health professionals to improve outcomes for women. 

Dr Karen Williams is a consultant psychiatrist who specialises in PTSD and other trauma syndromes, particularly those caused by sexual abuse and domestic violence. In 2022, she founded Ramsay Clinic Thirroul, Australia’s first women-only, trauma-specific mental health service. She is now developing and directing Australia’s first publicly funded trauma recovery service.  

Dr Williams is a member of the RANZCP’s Family Violence Psychiatry Network committee and is the Special Advisor on Mental Health at the Illawarra Women’s Health Centre. She is also the founder of the charity Doctors Against Violence Towards Women, an advocacy group aimed at promoting the mental and physical safety of women who are survivors of family violence and sexual assault.  

Dr Rajlaxmi Khopade (Raj) is a consultant psychiatrist based in Shepparton and working full time at Goulburn Valley Health, a regional public health service in Victoria. She completed her basic psychiatry training and Advanced Training in Psychiatry of Old Age and became a Fellow of the RANZCP in 2022. 

Raj has been actively involved with the Women’s Recovery Network (WREN) since its inception and continues to contribute to WREN in Shepparton. She also works with the community mental health team for older adults.  With a passion for women’s mental health, she is dedicated to advancing its management within the public mental health sector. 

Dr Tina Rizkallah is an early career psychiatrist working in the areas of eating disorders and forensic psychiatry. She has a particular interest in exploring women's experiences and their intersection with mental disorders, focusing on issues such as body image, coercive control, and domestic and family violence.  A passionate advocate for gender equality, she currently serves as the chair of the Women's Psychiatry Network. 

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This podcast is provided to you for information purposes only and to provide a broad public understanding of various mental health topics. The podcast may represent the views of the author and not necessarily the views of The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists ('RANZCP'). The podcast is not to be relied upon as medical advice, or as a substitute for medical advice, does not establish a doctor-patient relationship and should not be a substitute for individual clinical judgement. By accessing The RANZCP's podcasts you also agree to the full terms and conditions of the RANZCP's Website. Expert mental health information and finding a psychiatrist in Australia or New Zealand is available on the RANZCP’s Your Health In Mind Website.