SCENARIO.

Malachi is a queer student of African British origin. For his final project, he wanted to make artistic work about his identity, being queer and how those intersections impact his mental health. Malachi’s teacher is a white heterosexual cis male he has suggested to Malachi that he choose a different subject to research that offers more ‘scope’ for investigation. Malachi believes that this is because his tutor does not know much about the subject area and wants Malachi to choose a subject that he is more familiar with.

This has left Malachi with a dilemma should he continue to make the work and complain about the fact that his teacher is putting pressure on him to change or should he change his proposal to a subject area that his tutor is more familiar with. After all, Malachi’s teacher will be part of the assessment process and Malachi does not wish to offend him.

According to the Stonewall Gay and Bisexual Men’s Health Survey to probe the mental health of the LGBTI community. Black gay and bisexual men are five times more likely to attempt suicide than their white peers and twice as likely to suffer from depression.

www.stonewall.org.uk/sites/default/files/Gay_and_Bisexual_ Men_s_Health_Survey__2013_.pdfhttps://www.stonewall. org.uk/sites/default/files/Gay_and_Bisexual_Men_s_Health_ Survey__2013_.pdf

I just felt so unsupported I know I was seeing the university counsellor that took forever to come through and I was only seeing her every so often. I wanted to make work about depression, being black and queer, but it was awkward discussing this with my tutor because he didn’t have a clue. Finding out about the degree attainment gap I’m in my final year and knowing that I’m less likely to receive a first or 2.1 for my work because I am black has stressed me out. This and my tutor not seeing eye to eye is giving me a pressure that I don’t need. On top of all this I found out that Black men are 17 times more likely to be diagnosed with a Psychotic illness than their white counterparts.

I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE RISE IN RACISM IN THE UK AND HOW IT AFFECTS

MY STUDENTS OF COLOUR. WHAT CAN I DO TO SUPPORT THEM?

Option 1:

There are some resources that your students can join to find safe spaces that offer support to them when the pressure gets too much. Having a network of people they know, are at ease with and being able to speak up for themselves is /important for self-esteem, confidence and mental wellbeing.

Please note that It is also worth mentioning that some of the usual self – help solutions that are normally suggested to mental health sufferers may actually be inaccessible to them because they do not represent safe spaces to that particular individual or/and they may well be unaffordable. An example of this is exercise. Yoga might represent a space where an individual might experience being othered or may find that sessions are too costly to participate in or both. Not everyone is able to afford a healthy diet or holidays and these are some of the suggestions that are often made to people when discussing mental health.

The Black and Asian Therapist Network aim to bring a black and Asian perspective to psychotherapy and counselling. Supports therapists to develop expertise and resources in a more sensitive approach to B & A issues. As well as promoting therapy as a way for B & A people to support their mental health and wellbeing.

www.baatn.org.uk/AboutUs

Option 2:

Encourage your student to go to as many talks as possible. consented.co.uk hosts discussions and workshops called Mental Health Matters. Previous workshops have focused on mental health concerns for people of colour as well as how capitalism affects mental health. The day long events are held in educational institutions across London and normally involve lots of lively debate, discussion and presentation primarily of interest to young people. Consented are currently publishing their first quarterly print magazine which will focus on mental health and the ways in which mental health is affected by day to day interactions with the world around us, addiction, race, gender, the body and personal narratives.

Option 3:

Shades of Noir create safe spaces for students, staff and alumni to come together to discuss a range of issues regarding pedagogies of social justice and intersectionality within Art Design and Communication. One such event was Mental Health & Creative Healing which was held at Wimbledon College of Arts. This event explored the challenges faced by people of colour with regard to mental health and wellbeing.

What is unique about Shades of Noir is that there is no hierarchy in terms of panelists. Those who attend are the experts regardless of age, experience or background. The audience are also always part of the discussion and are invited to participate through Q&A or comments. Events are followed by lunch in which all attendees are invited to network. Shades of Noir events have a translator for deaf attendees.

MY STUDENT WISHES TO MAKE WORK ABOUT THE STIGMA OF MENTAL HEALTH AND HIS CULTURAL IDENTITY?

Option 1:

Bethlem Royal Hospital was founded in 1247. Situated within the hospital grounds Bethlem Museum Of The Mind cares for an internationally renowned collection of archives, art and historic objects, which together offer an important resource that documents the history of mental healthcare and treatment.

Option 2:

Maudsley Long Gallery currently houses the photographic studies of psychiatric patients taken by Henry Hering in the 19th century. Reveals a captivating record of institutional life in the mid-victorian era.

Option 3:

The Wellcome Collection has hosted a number of exhibitions which explore the vast capacity of the mind. The current exhibition Bedlam: the asylum and beyond ends on 15th January 2017

ARE THERE ANY ORGANISATIONS THAT WOULD BE OF SPECIFIC INTEREST TO PEOPLE OF COLOUR WHO ARE UNDERGOING MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT?

Option 1:

Chama Kay is a spoken word artist and mental health advocate who suffers from Borderline Personality disorder. He has put together the following list to help fellow sufferers;

Crisis Helplines

CALM

CALM is the Campaign Against Living Miserably, for men aged 15-35.

0800 58 58 58 (national helpline open 7 days a week from 5pm-midnight) www.thecalmzone.net

Mind

Promotes the views and needs of people with mental health problems.

0300 123 3393 (Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm)

Papyrus

Young suicide prevention society.

HOPElineUK 0800 068 4141 (Mon-Fri,10am-5pm & 7-10pm. Weekends 2-5pm) www.papyrus-uk.org

Samaritans

Confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair.

116 123 (free 24-hour helpline) www.samaritans.org.uk

Sane

Charity offering support and carrying out research into mental illness.

0845 767 8000 (daily, 6-11pm) sanemail@org.uk www.sane.org.uk

Refuge

Advice on dealing with domestic violence.

0808 2000 247 (24-hour helpline) www.refuge.org.uk

Young Minds

Information on child and adolescent mental health. Services for parents and professionals.

Parents’ helpline 0808 802 5544 (Mon-Fri, 9.30am4pm) www.youngminds.org.uk

Black and Ethnic Minority Focused Mental Health Services and Resources

African and Caribbean Mental Health Services (ACMHS)

Manchester based organisation founded in 1989 providing free, confidential, sensitive and culturally appropriate services to African and African Caribbean people suffering from mental ill health.

0161 226 9562 http://acmhs.squarespace.com/

Anthony Johnson Counselling

South London based Black British counsellor experienced in Person-Based Counselling. He has been running his practice since 2002 and focuses on working with the black community. He also has experience working with people from the LGBTQ community, people dealing with addiction issues and people suffering from HIV/AIDS.

07904 139590 http://anthonyjohnson-counselling.co.uk/

Barnet, Enfield and Haringey NHS Trust

Directory of services in the North London boroughs which fall within the trust which are geared specifically for BME communities.

http://www.beh-mht.nhs.uk/patients-and-carers/blackand-ethnic-minority-support.htm

Black and Asian Therapist Network

Nationwide directory of services specifically geared towards BME communities. Many of the services are free, though some do require a small contribution towards sessions if the client/patient can pay. http://www.baatn.org.uk/free.htm

Black Mental Health

Online source for news stories, editorials, historical statistics and facts on the state of black mental health in the UK.

http://www.blackmentalhealth.org.uk/

Camden Local Council

Directory of BME focused mental health services in the North London borough of Camden.

www.camden.gov.uk/ccm/content/contacts/councilcontacts/social-care-and-health/contacts-for-blackand-ethnic-minorities-mental-health

Centre for Mental Health

Bradley Commission briefing 1 – a report from 2013 on BME mental health and criminal justice and the role community groups can play for those over represented in the mental health and criminal justice systems.

www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/bradley-briefing1

Ethnic Inequalities in Mental Health: Promoting Lasting Positive Change www.nsun.org.uk/assets/downloadableFiles/ EthnicInequalitiesinMentalHealthReportFebruary20142. pdf

Report on the experience of BME mental health service users.

It’s Good to Talk

Database of therapists and organisations geared towards helping people from BME communities.

www.itsgoodtotalk.org.uk/useful-links/categories/ethnicminorities

The Maya Centre

An organisation providing free long term counselling and psychological support to some of the most vulnerable women in our community; women who have experienced severe trauma through domestic violence, abuse in childhood or overseas in war and conflict.

020 7281 8970 www.mayacentre.org.uk

Mental Health Foundation

Nationwide research organisation set up to explore alternate theories behind mental health issues and offer explanations behind mental health crises in different communities.

www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z/b/black-asian-andminority-ethnic-bame-communities

Michael Opoku-Forfieh

South East London based Integrative Therapist with 16 years’ experience. He has worked with people from multiple communities and in a range of settings and situations including schools, prisons and doctor’s surgeries. He provides support for people dealing with several personal difficulties including addictions, anxiety, depression, bereavement and stress.

07931 412168 www.counselling-directory.org.uk/counsellors/michaelopoku-forfieh-msc-therapeutic-counselli

Mind – Brighton and Hove

Local branch of a national charity offering services for various BME communities. Current programmes include Black Women’s Group, Muslim Forum, Chinese Mental Health Association etc.

01273 66 69 50 www.mindcharity.co.uk/mind-directory-categories/ black-asian-minority-ethnic

Nafsiyat Project

London (Islington) based organisation specialising in Intercultural Therapy, offering therapy and counselling in 22 languages including Amharic, Ga, Twi and Yoruba.

020 7561 1884 www.nafsiyat.org.uk

NHS Live Well

Information and advice to black communities on dealing with mental health struggles.

www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Blackhealth/Pages/Mentalhealth. aspx

Recovr

A new service set up to help young black adults find black therapists and counsellors who relate to their experiences.

www.recovr.co.uk @hellorecovr

Re-think Mental Illness

National charity recognising the need to offer diverse mental health care and services.

www.rethink.org/about-us/equality-and-diversity-visionstatement

Sandwell African Caribbean Mental Health Foundation

West Midlands (West Bromwich) based voluntary organisation designed to cater for the needs of people from African and Caribbean descent and their significant others, who are affected by mental ill health.

0121 525 1629 www.sacmhf.co.uk/index.html

Southall Black Sisters

West London based charity established in 1979 to provide information, advice, advocacy, counselling and practical help for women of colour who are or have been victims of gender based violence. www.southallblacksisters.org.uk/services

Waltham Forest Black People’s Mental Health Association

East London based charity providing mental health support for local black communities.

0208 509 2646 www.charitychoice.co.uk/waltham-forest-blackpeoples-mental-health-association-51079

Option 2:

Aisha Mirza is a writer and counsellor from east London, interested in body hair, madness and race. Mirza studies the impact of microaggressions on the psyche of black and brown people. Her written work has appeared in the guardian, the independent, black girl dangerous, media diversified, open democracy. She has also written an article called staying alive through Brexit: racism and emotional labour will be published in ‘An anthology of essays by muslim writers in 2017’ (saqi books)

Please also see: www.gal-dem.com/on-being-mad-brown-hairy

Links and resources

Imaan www.imaan.org.uk

A social support group for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Muslims, their family friends and supporter and those questioning their sexuality or gender identity.

Naz Project London (NPL)

This project provides sexual health and HIV prevention and support services to targeted people of colour communities in London. It provides sexual health and HIV/ AIDS prevention and support services to South Asians (including Bangladeshis, Indians and Pakistanis), Muslims (including those from the Middle East and Africa), Horn of Africans (Eritreans, Ethiopians and Somalis, Portuguese speakers (including Angolans, Brazilians, Mozambicans and Portuguese), and Spanish speakers (mainly Latin American). It offers a support group for people living with HIV/AIDS (which includes men of colour who have sex with men) and a project of activities for Black African and Caribbean) men who have sex with men.

www.naz.org.uk

Option 3:

UAL Students Union lists a range of societies such as:

The African Caribbean Society

Arts LGBTQ

Chinese Society

Diversity Matters

Hong Kong Society

Indian Cultural Society

Language Society

Taiwanese Society

UAL Labour

UALl Momentum

UAL Student Action For Refugees

UAL Japan Society