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

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

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Services targeted on 1) particular communities, 2) BME young peopleat particular risk <strong>and</strong> 3) particular mental health problemsMany projects have developedin response to <strong>the</strong> needs <strong>of</strong>young people in particularcommunities such as <strong>the</strong>Chinese community, to BMEyoung people at particularrisk, such as Asian girls <strong>and</strong>refugees <strong>and</strong> asylum seekers,<strong>and</strong> to particular mentalhealth problems, such as highrisk <strong>of</strong> being sectionedunder <strong>the</strong> Mental Health Act<strong>and</strong> suicide.Good practice example 13 -Zindaagi (Newham AsianWomen’s Project)Newham Asian Women’s Project encompasses awide range <strong>of</strong> departments <strong>and</strong> is aimed atmeeting <strong>the</strong> needs <strong>of</strong> South Asian women <strong>and</strong>children fleeing domestic violence <strong>and</strong>/orexperiencing mental health difficulties. Theproject has four refuges, a counselling service, atraining department, a youth project calledTeens@NAWP, a general <strong>and</strong> legal advice service<strong>and</strong> a mental health project called Zindaagi.1) Particular communities -<strong>the</strong> Chinese communityGood practice example 11 -Kwan Wai Chinese MentalHealth ProjectKwan Wai Chinese Mental Health Project is one<strong>of</strong> ten projects managed by <strong>the</strong> Wai Yin ChineseWomen’s Society in Manchester, which wasestablished over 16 years ago. Its originalpurpose was to <strong>of</strong>fer support for womenexperiencing domestic violence <strong>and</strong> thosesuffering depression <strong>and</strong> anxiety. However,since <strong>the</strong>n, Wai Yin has developed a range <strong>of</strong>projects serving children, young people, adults<strong>and</strong> elderly people.Funded by a Family Support Grant,<strong>the</strong>se include: A supplementary school, which aims to helpyoung Chinese people (aged 5-19) with <strong>the</strong>irEnglish, Maths, M<strong>and</strong>arin <strong>and</strong> homework. The Youth Project <strong>of</strong>fers activities for youngpeople under 30, help with benefits <strong>and</strong>education <strong>and</strong> health promotion; it worksclosely with <strong>the</strong> local Connexions service <strong>and</strong><strong>the</strong> drug <strong>and</strong> alcohol service. Through itsdifferent activities, <strong>the</strong> Youth Project workerswill <strong>of</strong>ten become aware <strong>of</strong> mental healthdifficulties <strong>and</strong> will assist in referring a youngperson on to Kwan Wai, a specialist mentalhealth project or to <strong>the</strong> CAMHS if <strong>the</strong> youngperson’s difficulties are too complex for <strong>the</strong>Kwan Wai staff to deal with on <strong>the</strong>ir own.Whilst <strong>the</strong> service is not set up as a formalcounselling service, three Kwan Wai staffhave an Advanced Certificate in Counselling<strong>and</strong> undertake a lot <strong>of</strong> ‘informal’ counselling.The team leader is a qualified psychiatricnurse <strong>and</strong> two o<strong>the</strong>r staff are qualified nurses.2a) BME young people atparticular risk – youngAsian womenGood practice example 12 -EACH: The PUKAAR projectThis project works across West London fromthree sites (Hounslow, Harrow <strong>and</strong> Brent),mainly with BME communities, <strong>and</strong> providesculturally sensitive counselling <strong>and</strong> supportservices for those affected by alcohol, drug <strong>and</strong>mental health problems.In 2004, EACH received new funds to develop<strong>the</strong> PUKAAR project. This <strong>of</strong>fers specific supportfor young Asian women <strong>and</strong> girls aged between11 <strong>and</strong> 19 experiencing violence <strong>and</strong> abuse wholive or work in <strong>the</strong> boroughs <strong>of</strong> Hounslow,Hillingdon, Ealing, Richmond upon Thames, Brent<strong>and</strong> Harrow. The service <strong>of</strong>fers free <strong>and</strong>confidential counselling via one-to-one work <strong>and</strong>group work support. Satellite counselling servicesare run in a number <strong>of</strong> local colleges <strong>and</strong>schools. Self-referrals are welcomed as are thosefrom GPs <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r pr<strong>of</strong>essionals. The service isdelivered by fully qualified counsellors, from awide range <strong>of</strong> ethnic backgrounds who are fluentin Gujerati, Hindi <strong>and</strong> Punjabi.Teens @ NAWP is one part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Zindaagiprogramme <strong>and</strong> is focused on young Asianwomen aged 10-19 years.A range <strong>of</strong> activities are<strong>of</strong>fered including: Work in schools – lunchtime drop-in sessionsallowing informal relaxed time for young Asiangirls to talk about any issues <strong>of</strong> concern to <strong>the</strong>m. One-to-one support <strong>and</strong> counselling. Residential trips – once or twice yearly; smallgroups <strong>of</strong> girls taken away for a week, providingopportunities to try new activities <strong>and</strong> have fun. Summer programme – largely activity focused. Youth project – weekly drop-in on Tuesdayevenings, with transport home providedafterwards. The project provides a range <strong>of</strong>activities <strong>and</strong> issue-based workshops aimed atbuilding self-esteem <strong>and</strong> confidence, as well aspeer <strong>and</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>essional support. The transportprovision seen to be key to <strong>the</strong> uptake/success<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se sessions. As <strong>the</strong> recent project AnnualReport notes:“The services provided have helped break downisolation among many young Asian women in <strong>and</strong>out <strong>of</strong> school by providing <strong>the</strong>m with <strong>the</strong>opportunity to make friends, seek support from<strong>the</strong> project <strong>and</strong> has provided <strong>the</strong>m with a safe<strong>and</strong> confidential space to discuss <strong>the</strong> issuesaffecting <strong>the</strong>m in <strong>the</strong>ir daily lives.”O<strong>the</strong>r activities by Zindaagi include <strong>the</strong>production <strong>of</strong> a training pack <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r resourcesfor pr<strong>of</strong>essionals working with young Asianwomen (addressing issues <strong>of</strong> self-harm, suicide<strong>and</strong> domestic violence). Training is also <strong>of</strong>feredfor pr<strong>of</strong>essionals on self-harm (dem<strong>and</strong> for thisis noted to have increased considerably followingpublication <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> National Institute for ClinicalExcellence (NICE) guidelines on self-harm).15

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