{"id":2668,"date":"2021-01-21T10:26:57","date_gmt":"2021-01-21T10:26:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.imperial.ac.uk\/ighi\/?p=2668"},"modified":"2021-01-21T17:23:09","modified_gmt":"2021-01-21T17:23:09","slug":"forusbyus-co-designing-a-mental-health-solution-owned-by-the-black-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.imperial.ac.uk\/ighi\/2021\/01\/21\/forusbyus-co-designing-a-mental-health-solution-owned-by-the-black-community\/","title":{"rendered":"#ForUsByUs\u00a0\u2013\u00a0co-designing a\u00a0mental health\u00a0solution owned by the Black community\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Image credit: 1388843 from Pixabay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Growing up in\u00a0<\/span>a\u00a0<\/span>Caribbean family<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>that had experienced various traumas and challenges,<\/span>\u00a0I<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>had some awareness of how mental\u00a0<\/span>illness\u00a0<\/span>impacted<\/span>\u00a0my<\/span>self and my<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>relatives.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>However,\u00a0<\/span>it\u00a0<\/span>wasn\u2019t<\/span>\u00a0until I attended a<\/span>\u00a0masterclass\u00a0<\/span>last year\u00a0<\/span>on Black mental health\u00a0<\/span>hosted<\/span>\u00a0by\u00a0<\/span>BAME<\/span>\u00a0in Psychiatry & Psychology<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0<\/span>Centre of Pan African Thought<\/span><\/a>\u00a0that I realised the\u00a0<\/span>nuanced challenges\u00a0<\/span>faced by<\/span>\u00a0member<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0of<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the Black community<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Inequalities in\u00a0mental\u00a0health\u00a0care\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

In the United Kingdom, Black British\/African\/Caribbean people are four times more likely\u00a0than White British people\u00a0to be sectioned under the Mental Health Act, with\u00a0people of Black Caribbean ethnicity\u00a0having the\u00a0highest rate of detention\u00a0in psychiatric wards.\u00a0Unfortunately,\u00a0there is\u00a0also\u00a0evidence to suggest that\u00a0the Black community are\u00a0less\u00a0likely to access mental health support\u00a0from GPs\u00a0during the first signs of trouble. For many\u00a0Black people who live with a mental health condition,\u00a0such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia,\u00a0their first contact with mental health services is\u00a0often\u00a0through law enforcement\u00a0and\u00a0restraint\u00a0(i.e. being sectioned).<\/p>\n

For over 30 years<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0poor experiences of\u00a0<\/span>B<\/span>lack\u00a0<\/span>people<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>who\u00a0<\/span>have\u00a0<\/span>access<\/span>ed<\/span>\u00a0mental health service<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0have been well documented<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>Examples of\u00a0<\/span>negative<\/span>\u00a0experiences include\u00a0<\/span>excessive use of medication, fear of\u00a0<\/span>stigma,\u00a0<\/span>reports of\u00a0<\/span>discrimination<\/span>, disproportional<\/span>\u00a0experience of<\/span>\u00a0forceful treatment and a lack of cultural awareness among<\/span>\u00a0staff<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Th<\/span>is in turn accounts for the lack of engagement<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>among<\/span>\u00a0the Black community\u00a0<\/span>with\u00a0<\/span>preventative<\/span>\u00a0and early interventions<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>offered by the\u00a0<\/span>NHS<\/span>\u00a0services<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Based on what we know so far, there are t<\/span>hree<\/span>\u00a0key\u00a0<\/span>features of a\u00a0<\/span>mental health service that the community needs:\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n