A new report by the Centre for Mental Health, the Diana Award, and UK Youth highlights the need for UK mental health services to address racial inequality. The report, titled ‘A Space to be me’, emphasizes the barriers faced by young Black and racialized people in accessing culturally sensitive mental health support, pointing to systemic racism as a key factor.
The report calls for reforms to legislation, such as the UK’s Mental Health Act, to address disparities faced by people of color. It suggests expanding training for health support teams, prioritizing race equity in a 10-year health plan, and integrating training on racial microaggressions and anti-racism into mandatory teacher training.
The Young Changemakers program, which involved over 100 young people aged 14 to 25, led to the development of social action projects to address mental health challenges. Melvin Riley, a participant in the program, advocated for mandatory anti-racist training for teachers to better support racialized communities.
The report also highlights the mental health inequalities faced by young people in the UK, with one in five children and young people likely to have a mental health disorder. It emphasizes the importance of listening to young voices and involving them in decision-making processes.
The authors of the report urge the UK government to prioritize high-quality early mental health support for young people, especially those from black communities. By having young people from these communities shaping mental health services, the report suggests that accessible and culturally responsive mental health care can be achieved.
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