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

Good practice example 1 - Sharing Voices in BradfordSharing Voices has three broad aims: To liaise and work with statutory providers toimprove the range and quality of services. To stimulate voluntary sector activity, developcommunity capacity and support self-help groupsand networks. To encourage local, national and internationaldebates about the nature of mental health, diverseperspectives and ethnicity.And seven objectives: Initiate the process of developing a mutual interestgroup (a forum in which a wide range of professionalsand users can come together to discuss current issuesand think about solutions). Promote and develop capacity and infrastructurewithin communities around mental health and wellbeing(such as recruiting local people to mental healthservices, volunteering schemes, befriending, accessto employment). Engage with individuals, groups and organisationsand stimulate debate and dialogue around ethnicity,mental health and well-being (demystifyingpsychiatry/mental health, legitimising critical andalternative perspectives, identifying and creating safespaces in local communities for individuals). Create a dialogue between local communities,statutory agencies and voluntary organisations andprovide support and advice to other agencies todevelop appropriate responses for their client group(supporting existing organisations to boost theircapacity in addressing needs of BME communities). Facilitate and support individuals and localcommunities to participate in national debates aboutethnicity and mental health. Signpost people and communities to appropriateagencies for support. Network with local and national service providers.Some of the work undertaken includes: Befriending – including one-to-one support forpeople who have often refused to access statutorymental health services. Mutual interest group – a general discussion groupdrawing together mental health professionals, serviceusers and carers to look at how to eradicate barriersto services. Recruitment of volunteers. Employment training and support. Self-help groups and peer support – through arange of activities including music and health andfitness (have established links with local sports centreand a group from the project go along regularlyto use the facilities). Family work and support. Faith-based support. Capacity building of local groups and voluntarysector organisations. Partnerships with non-mental health services. Advice on BME issues/awareness raising –presentations at seminars, conferences etc. Feedback to local statutory mental health servicesfrom local people.A recent development has been the linking withanother local organisation, the Bangladeshi YouthOrganisation (BYO), where Sharing Voices works ona regular basis with young men from BYO aboutissues to do with mental health. A number of youngmen from BYO have since registered as volunteerswith Sharing Voices Bradford and are involved inrunning workshops and providing ‘safe spaces’ foryoung people to come and talk about what mentalhealth and well-being means for them.The importance of gradually building relationshipsbased on trust is highlighted, as is beingable to respond to contexts and communitiesin imaginative and flexible ways.It is not about a ‘one size fits all’ model.07