Abstract

The experiences of learning disabled and neurodivergent women in UK mental health inpatient services have been historically marked by coercion, neglect, and systemic violence. The various exposures of abuse have made visible the brutality of institutional life, yet successive governments have failed to meet their own targets for reducing inpatient detention. Women continue to report the same experiences of disempowerment and humiliation that have been consistently documented. This article gives a commentary of developments in policy and research since the early 2000s, asking whether things have changed for these women. This is a current issue due to the continuing exposure of negative practices and deaths occurring in such units.