Staff from Newham Talking Therapies at the East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT) displayed an eye-catching billboard at Westfield Stratford City, seen by thousands of shoppers every day.
Colleagues have also partnered with the University of East London to organise an information stand for young black students to find out about mental health support. Students can speak with ELFT staff and pick up leaflets detailing lived experiences and the importance of mental wellbeing.
Focus groups with young black male service users have also been set up to gather insights into mental health services. This has helped colleagues to understand any barriers preventing access.
ELFT has launched this campaign, as some groups find it challenging to reach out for help when facing mental health difficulties – particularly young black men.
NHS data has shown that people from black communities are more likely to experience a common mental health problem than other ethnicities. This is approximately 23 per cent of black people in Britain, compared to 17 per cent of those who identify as ‘White British’ or 14 per cent of those who are ‘White Other’.
Despite this, studies have indicated that only 6 per cent of black people in the UK are treated for mental health problems – the lowest treatment rate of any ethnic group. The figure is 13 per cent for white people.
The NHS has traditionally struggled to reach out to young black men for mental health support. According to mental health charity Mind, the main reasons for this are stigma, cultural barriers and systemic discrimination.
Talking about the launch of the campaign, Newham Talking Therapies’ Operations Manager, Jakir Baksh, said: “We acknowledge how difficult it can be for many people to take the first step when it comes to looking for help. This is why we have made a call for anybody who is struggling with their mental health to come forward.
“If this describes you, we encourage you to refer yourself to our team. We have an online self-referral form, which will enable a member of our team to schedule an assessment. Alternatively, you can call us on 0208 175 1770 from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.”
Newham Talking Therapies is a free, confidential service for residents in the local authority. Trained mental health professionals help to identify troubling thoughts and emotions through tailored sessions with those looking to improve their mental health.
The billboard at Westfield Stratford City was created as part of a ‘Quality Improvement’ (QI) project by the Newham Talking Therapies team. QI is a methodology used across the Trust to tackle complex health needs where an answer is not fully known. The approach brings together subject experts, such as staff and service users, to identify and test possible solutions.