Minority voices: Research into the access and acceptability of ... - MMC

Specific areas of unmet need identified by staffIn addition to the concerns described previously about many services not engaging with youngpeople from Black and minority ethnic groups, and being aware of many only approachingthem when their difficulties had reached crisis point, some staff raised some concerns aboutspecific groups of young people.! Young refugees and asylum seekersA number of staff were clearly concerned about the ability of their service to address the needspresented by young refugees and asylum seekers. They suggested that a major difficulty isthat often mental health concerns are ‘sidestepped’ until other more practical matters such astheir housing and benefits are sorted out. This may have serious consequences in terms of ayoung person’s mental well-being. Some respondents noted that many staff feel overwhelmedby the multitude of problems presented by these young people, their experiences of extremetrauma, grief and loss and that staff needs, for support for themselves in dealing with theseissues, are often unaddressed.! Young people from Asian communitiesSeveral respondents singled out young Asian women as one group whose needs may be poorlyaddressed due to marked difficulties in engaging with them. School staff highlighted concernsabout the support needs of young Asian women that they cannot meet and that culturallyspecific services are needed to address the following issues:• Pressures at home, including many caring responsibilities, being forced to get marriedand to achieve highly in school - a form of ‘dual existence’ between home and schoolthat can result in alienation and feelings of extreme isolation at home and at school.• Experience of racism at school.• Young women escaping to dangerous environments or becoming involved in prostitutionand sexual exploitation.• Rising numbers using heroin or other substances.• Young women being coerced into having sex with boys.• Becoming pregnant as teenagers.• Young women neglecting their physical and sexual health and often developingproblems with eating disorders and low self-esteem.Staff also noted practical difficulties in sharing information with these young women - forexample, mail sent to the home may be opened by the senior male in the household. Inaddition, GPs are not viewed as good sources of support since they often know the family andmay even be related.! Young men as heads of householdsThe relatively higher rate of physical problems such as coronary heart disease and diabetesamongst some Black and minority ethnic groups is resulting in the early death of a significantnumber of fathers. The knock-on effect of this is the expectation that the eldest son willbecome the head of the household. Some services have reported young men presenting forcounselling due to anxieties about taking on this role. It is quite likely that many more arestruggling on unsupported due to their lack of understanding of CAMHS and other services -and of many professionals working with young people not being aware of the need to addressthis issue.Minority Voices Research Report37