Mental health charities seek views of black young people
Emily Harle
Monday, June 5, 2023
A coalition of mental health charities are asking young people from black and black mixed-race backgrounds about their access to mental health support, after research revealed that black people are less likely to get earlier preventative support.
Young people will be asked about their perceptions of mental health services, levels of mental health awareness and the effects of stigma, in a nationwide survey of black and black mixed-race young people.
Respondents will also be asked about the availability of culturally-informed mental health support.
-
Young people co-produce mental health directory
-
Interview: Tessy Ojo, chief executive, The Diana Award
Black and black mixed-race young people aged between 12 and 18 living in the UK will be able to share their views and experiences in survey until 16 June.
The project aims to gather information directly from young people about mental health services, after previous research has shown that black young people are less likely to access earlier preventative mental health support, according to the Centre for Mental Health.
It adds that black people are also more likely to experience police involvement or coercive measures in their first contact with mental health services, with black people in England and Wales being four times as likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act than their white peers.
The survey comes as part of the Young Changemakers programme – a partnership between the Centre for Mental Health, The Diana Award and UK Youth – and is funded by the People’s Postcode Lottery and Comic Relief.
The programme supports young people to produce social action projects aiming to tackle mental health inequalities in minority ethnic communities.
Ashleigh Onabanjo, peer researcher and co-producer of the Young Changemakers programme, said: "This research project creates a unique opportunity for young people to provide insights into their views based on their lived experiences. It would be exciting if we could get a lot of participants because it'll mean that the research can provide recommendations for mental health services that are shaped by young people's views."
Kadra Abdinasir, associate director of children and young people’s mental health at the Centre for Mental Health, added: “The mental health experiences of black and black mixed race young people are poorly understood due to a real scarcity of evidence in the UK.
“This new survey creates a vital opportunity for us to gather new and relevant insights we hope will inform decision-making and improve young people’s outcomes.”
