ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the findings relating to women's experiences of accessing mental health services across both the statutory and non-statutory sector. The study sought to determine whether a shared set of barriers currently existed both in relation to accessing and using mental health services across both the statutory and non-statutory sector. In particular, structural barriers had been problematic for older women within the sample group who had sought mental health support prior to the introduction of anti-discrimination legislation when service providers had no legal obligation to meet the access requirements of disabled people. women who had sought information about mental health services in more recent years commented on an increasing use of information technology and how service information, in particular those provided through the statutory sector, had been obtained through internet searching. A minority of women considered their mental health issues had been satisfactorily addressed when their involvement with their worker or service had concluded.
