There are definite inequalities within our communities. Breaking down barriers and stigma is fundamental to people engaging. Better health outcomes for people and less demand on health services.
In early 2023, NCVS engaged with community organisations to understand why some communities (especially those from South Asian backgrounds) were not accessing NHS Talk Therapy services.
Based on the findings of the engagement we partnered with Al-Hurraya to provide three training sessions for community leaders and organisations supporting diverse communities. These took place on Friday 8 March and Wednesday 17 April 2024 with all proving very popular. We had to create a waiting list when we first opened for registrations!
The aims of the training were to:
- Better understand the importance of resilience in ethnically diverse communities.
- Explore cultural considerations and their impact on mental health.
- Identify strategies to overcome stigma and cultural barriers.
- Promote mental wellbeing and self-care practices.
- Build resilient communities.
What did people think?
Davia, the NCVS Projects Support Administrator, went along to all sessions to help facilitate with the training. You can read about her experience at the training session on 8 March here. All learners agreed, or strongly agreed, that the training was effective and provided a comprehensive understanding of resilience and cultural considerations in mental health, as well as providing useful practical strategies to help promote mental wellbeing and improve engagement.
We also held morning and afternoon sessions on Wednesday 17 April. The training was well attended by a range of organisations from across the local VCSE sector and local authority. Learners used their own personal experiences to better connect with the session, which allowed for a greater understanding of the link between resilience and improved mental health. Time was spent discussing the changing cultural norms surrounding mental health, with younger generations teaching the older generations how poor mental health can negatively impact an individual’s wellbeing.
Davia sums up her thoughts on the training below:
It’s great to see that people can use their lived experience to achieve greater knowledge of a topic that impacts many in society but can be seen as taboo in some cultures. It shows that we are more aware of the way society is progressing and that our approach to mental health is improving. Training sessions like these enable stronger ties within cultural communities, which can only be a positive thing.
What's next: save the date
We are organising a community event to equip people with basic knowledge about mental health. The aim is to raise awareness of mental health within communities that experience low levels of take-up of services, particularly people from South Asian backgrounds. The event will be held on Thursday 6 June 2024 at The Indian Community Centre, 99 Hucknall Road, NG5 1QZ.
We are inviting local service providers such as Be U Notts, the Mental Health Crisis Team, and NHS Talking Therapies to let people know how to access services. We will also run a workshop to give attendees some practical tools for looking after their own mental health.
