Centre for Mental Health

"[In] so many meetings I attended, I would often be the only Black face... Feeling marginalized and not necessarily being asked from my perspective... I realized that really was not acceptable... so I felt okay, maybe there is an opportunity here to try and make a difference." On this month's podcast episode, Chris Frederick chats to Alethea Joshi about how his experience of poor mental health, suicidality and marginalisation compelled him to set up Project Soul Stride to support better mental health in Black communities, his hopes for the NHS's first anti-racism plan, and his work as a lived experience practitioner. Listen in! 👇🏿 Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eqShTe4S Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/ewDuRgNk Soundcloud: https://lnkd.in/eSMKCa3i Transcript/show notes: https://lnkd.in/eAs3fBEr #MentalHealth #MentalHealthAwareness #SuicideAwareness #BlackHistoryMonth #LivedExperience #MentalHealthPodcast #Healthcare #NHS

Blog: What makes a good mental health needs assessment, and why does it matter? If MHNAs are treated as a dynamic process rather than a dusty document, they can drive activity and investment to create mentally healthier communities, writes Andy Bell 👇

In 2021 I began my journey as a Co-producer for the Changemakers programme with The Diana Award, UK Youth and Centre for Mental Health. The aim of the programme is to reimagine mental health services for young, Black and Black-mixed heritage people. On Wednesday we celebrated 3 years of the programme and the impact it has had on communities at the launch of our report #ASpaceToBeMe. It was a lovely and empowering space to also celebrate #BlackHistoryMonth I am truly thankful for the opportunity to work on this and to highlight the importance of amplifying young, Black voices and creating a genuine safe space. I didn't have to dilute who I am when working on this programme. I didn't have to try and hide my blackness or my upset over how our mental health systems work against us. For the first time, I was encouraged to be me and share my experiences and be unapologetically passionate. 'A Space To Be Me' means a space to be unfiltered. A space where I am not concerned about how my blackness is perceived in relation to the standard of whiteness. It is a space where my blackness is not only acknowledged but celebrated. It is a space where my heritage doesn't limit me, but instead it allows me to express myself beyond the limits of our society. 🖤✊🏽 Thank you to Natalie Potts, Ayanda Sibanda, Kadra Abdinasir, Jess Webb, Harriette Simmons-Mason and more for such a wonderful opportunity. Read the report below! ⬇️

This #AceWeek (formerly Asexual Awareness Week) have a read of our blog where a guest writer reflects on coming out as asexual, the impact this had on her mental health, and hope for a future beyond labels and explanations: https://lnkd.in/eev37rzG #AsexualAwarenessWeek #MentalHealth #Asexuality

Looking for someone to evaluate the impact of your service? We have a long history of evaluating innovative approaches to mental health support and making the case for investment in what works 👇   Our evaluations help uncover and understand what works to address health inequalities. From national programmes like OHID's Better Mental Health Fund, to local projects like Project Future in Haringey and Centre 33 Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, and most recently the Young Changemakers programme, our evaluations help drive change in mental health support and policy.   We can help you measure impact and communicate the evidence for investment in your service. Find out how we could support you: https://lnkd.in/dRtfdxxk

"Don't think you're too young. You have the power to change your generation." 🔥 What an incredible event celebrating three years of the Young Changemakers programme, hearing from Cllr. Dr Jacqueline Dyer, Cllr Evelyn Akoto, and Young Changemakers themselves about the impact of the programme and how we can truly reimagine mental health support for young Black people. Learn more about the programme through our evaluation report: https://lnkd.in/etTUaaWx #ASpaceToBeMe #YouthMentalHealth #MentalHealth #MentalHealthInequality The Diana Award UK Youth

"Young Black voices aren't just calling for inclusion; we are demanding a reimagining of our support systems". Young Black people in the UK are more likely to struggle with mental health difficulties as a result of racism, discrimination and poverty. But they face multiple barriers to mental health support - Black and mixed-heritage children accounted for 36% of young people detained in mental health hospitals, but just 5% of those accessing community-based children and young people’s mental health services. Addressing this mental health injustice requires listening to young Black people about the changes that would make a real difference to their mental health. It means involving young Black people in the design of mental health services and policies. And it calls for comprehensive government action to eradicate the racism that does immense harm to young people's long-term wellbeing. With The Diana Award and UK Youth we've been working with Young Changemakers to reimagine mental health support for young people from racialised communities. Find out more in our new report: https://lnkd.in/etTUaaWx

Today we launch new research, sharing key insights from our Young Changemakers programme: involving young Black people in the design of mental health services and policies can make support more effective, break down barriers, and reduce mental health stigma. The Young Changemakers programme, a collaboration between the Centre, The Diana Award and UK Youth, has been supporting young Black people to create social action projects addressing the links between racial injustice and poor mental health. Project focuses included addressing hair discrimination faced by young Black women, tackling racist micro-aggressions in schools, and creating cultural awareness training for GPs and mental health practitioners. Through their projects, Young Changemakers have effected real change – shaping the policy agenda, reducing stigma, building community education and, ultimately, promoting better mental health for young Black people. Two months after racist and Islamophobic riots swept across the UK, and more than four years since the murder of George Floyd, young Black people continue to face disproportionate threats to their mental health. This report calls for a comprehensive cross-government strategy to tackle racism; coproduced solutions to young people’s mental health problems; and more culturally competent support for young Black people: https://lnkd.in/etTUaaWx #ASpaceToBeMe #BlackHistoryMonth #ReclaimingNarratives

The NHS is seeking individual and organisational perspectives on the future of the health service. It's imperative that mental health isn't overlooked in conversations about rebuilding the NHS - so please have your say 👇 We will be submitting our own organisational response. If you need some ideas, we've already set out a vision with NHS Confederation for mental health, learning disabilities and autism services: https://lnkd.in/eN35cRa6 Respond to the NHS survey: https://lnkd.in/dmqrAHsZ