Agenda item

Mark Wheatley, Programme Manager - Mental Health, will provide an overview of Leicester City Council Division of Public Health’s work with the African Heritage Alliance to support an initiative to explore key areas related to black mental health in Leicester.

The Programme Manager for Mental Health in Public Health and a representative from the African Heritage Alliance presented the Black Mental Health and Me Report. The report considered how Black/Black British individuals experience the mental health in Leicester in which it was noted that:

·       Past initiatives from the last 20 years show people from ethnic minorities are more likely to be compulsorily detained, to be treated in hospital, to be subject to measures like seclusion and to encounter health services through the criminal justice system.

·       This has been found to be still the same case now and there has been an overrepresentation of Black/ Black British individuals in the mental health system.

·       There is a lack of understanding of the nuances of Black mental health, meaning individuals have waited until crisis point to access system.

·       The key themes that were found in the report that have prevented access of the mental health system in the early stages of illness are previous experiences of the system, challenges with the mental health system and the effectiveness of handling issues of diversity and inclusion.  

·       The recommendations are suggested as route map for addressing the issues mentioned and included identifying individuals before they reach a critical point and providing education and training for practitioners around nuances of Black mental health.

·       It was highlighted that the African Caribbean Centre offers an opportunity in the City for outreach work, a liaison point and a voice for the community. It will require time to implement – 5 years was suggested – to measure and evaluate to see that things have moved in the right direction.

·       The representative from the African Heritage Alliance asked that no more data or reports are requested but action occurs.

As part of discussions, it was noted that:

·       Recommendations contained within the report are clear.

·       Leicestershire Police have been trying to engage more with communities following unrest in the City.

·       It is not only mental health, this issue intersects with health overall. A conversation about the experience of the Black community in health settings would be useful. UHL will embark on a process of having those conversations at a senior lead level to facilitate actual change in the system. 

·       It would be good to have a conversation of how to make the organisations aware of the nuances. It was suggested there is a lack of awareness of nuances in the 'English’ language used by the B lack community There could be more education about symptoms of Black mental health and  on the language used in health care settings. Leicestershire Police requested data from the African Heritage Alliance to assess the proportionality of detainment under the mental health act in line with the demography of the city.

·       LPT suggested to take the report to the Mental Health Collaborative to help design services moving forward.

·       VAL offered to link in with African Heritage Alliance to discuss where more mental health cafes could be set up and how to ensure appropriate training. 

AGREED:

·      The Mental Health Collaborative to bring a report back to the Board to update on progress with the recommendations in 6 months.