MHFA England: Supporting the wellbeing and mental health of People of Colour and Black people in the workplace
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<strong>Support<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>wellbe<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>mental</strong> <strong>health</strong><br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>People</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Colour</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Black</strong> <strong>people</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>workplace</strong><br />
This advice has been prepared follow<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> kill<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> George Floyd <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> subsequent<br />
focus on racial justice <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Black</strong> Lives Matter movement. At <strong>MHFA</strong> <strong>Engl<strong>and</strong></strong> we –<br />
along with many o<strong>the</strong>rs – have committed to do<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> work to become a truly anti-racist<br />
organisation.<br />
Ultimately our work on racial justice must impact positively on <strong>the</strong> opportunities <strong>and</strong><br />
<strong>wellbe<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>of</strong> colleagues who are <strong>Black</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>People</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Colour</strong>. We know however that a<br />
focus on race, race equity <strong>and</strong> White privilege can be exhaust<strong>in</strong>g for <strong>Black</strong> <strong>people</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />
<strong>People</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Colour</strong>. As organisations, leaders, managers <strong>and</strong> White colleagues we can <strong>and</strong><br />
must provide better support <strong>and</strong> be better allies.<br />
We would like to pay thanks to our colleagues at <strong>MHFA</strong> <strong>Engl<strong>and</strong></strong> who are <strong>Black</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />
<strong>People</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Colour</strong> for both shar<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>ir own experiences <strong>and</strong> talk<strong>in</strong>g about what <strong>the</strong>y<br />
need from us. In do<strong>in</strong>g so <strong>the</strong>y raised <strong>the</strong> importance <strong>of</strong> provid<strong>in</strong>g this support <strong>and</strong><br />
guidance <strong>and</strong> have been <strong>in</strong>stru<strong>mental</strong> <strong>in</strong> its creation. We would also like to thank<br />
colleagues at <strong>the</strong> Chartered Management Institute (CMI) <strong>and</strong> Bus<strong>in</strong>ess <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Community<br />
(BITC) for recognis<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> importance <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> guidance <strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong>fer<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>ir expertise <strong>and</strong><br />
<strong>in</strong>sight to its development.<br />
The advice is divided <strong>in</strong>to three sections:<br />
- <strong>Support<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>wellbe<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>People</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Colour</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Black</strong> colleagues<br />
- Underst<strong>and</strong><strong>in</strong>g racism <strong>and</strong> its impact<br />
- Becom<strong>in</strong>g an anti-racist <strong>workplace</strong><br />
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<strong>Support<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>wellbe<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>People</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Colour</strong><br />
<strong>and</strong> <strong>Black</strong> colleagues<br />
The most important th<strong>in</strong>g that managers, leaders, <strong>and</strong> peers can do is check <strong>in</strong> with our<br />
colleagues.<br />
Whatever our role is, we can all:<br />
- Educate ourselves about racism <strong>and</strong> White privilege, <strong>and</strong> how it impacts <strong>People</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Colour</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Black</strong> staff emotionally, <strong>mental</strong>ly, <strong>and</strong> physically, <strong>the</strong>ir experience <strong>of</strong><br />
work <strong>and</strong> performance<br />
- Underst<strong>and</strong> that even well-<strong>in</strong>tentioned <strong>and</strong> good work focus<strong>in</strong>g on anti-racism can<br />
be exhaust<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>and</strong> acknowledge this with <strong>People</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Colour</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Black</strong> colleagues<br />
- Listen to <strong>the</strong> experiences <strong>of</strong> <strong>People</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Colour</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Black</strong> colleagues: pay attention,<br />
listen non-judge<strong>mental</strong>ly <strong>and</strong> without <strong>in</strong>sert<strong>in</strong>g your thoughts. Learn, research <strong>and</strong><br />
reflect before you act<br />
- When <strong>the</strong>re are events which impact on <strong>Black</strong> <strong>people</strong> or <strong>People</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Colour</strong>,<br />
recognise it can have a negative effect on <strong>the</strong>ir <strong>wellbe<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>and</strong> on <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
performance. Have <strong>the</strong> discussion, create safe spaces to talk<br />
- Actively work to create safe <strong>workplace</strong>s for <strong>People</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Colour</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Black</strong> <strong>people</strong> so<br />
<strong>the</strong>y can proudly take <strong>the</strong>ir whole self to work, because research shows that this is<br />
not always <strong>the</strong> case<br />
- Support <strong>the</strong> creation <strong>of</strong> brave spaces to talk where <strong>People</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Colour</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Black</strong><br />
<strong>people</strong> don’t have to worry about <strong>the</strong>ir psychological safety, <strong>and</strong> where if <strong>the</strong>y do<br />
share, <strong>the</strong>y know someth<strong>in</strong>g will be done to improve <strong>the</strong> <strong>workplace</strong> culture <strong>and</strong><br />
environment<br />
Leaders <strong>and</strong> managers:<br />
- Lead with empathy, listen non-judge<strong>mental</strong>ly. If you have <strong>People</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Colour</strong> or<br />
<strong>Black</strong> <strong>people</strong> <strong>in</strong> your teams, check <strong>in</strong> on <strong>the</strong>m <strong>and</strong> ask how <strong>the</strong>y are do<strong>in</strong>g. Ask<br />
<strong>the</strong>m if <strong>the</strong>re is any support you can provide<br />
- If <strong>Black</strong> or <strong>People</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Colour</strong> employees are be<strong>in</strong>g asked to get <strong>in</strong>volved with<br />
activity which has <strong>the</strong> potential to retraumatise or stir up emotion, make sure <strong>the</strong>y<br />
feel empowered to ask for support, which might <strong>in</strong>clude time <strong>of</strong>f. Be proactive <strong>and</strong><br />
check <strong>in</strong> to see what <strong>the</strong>y need, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g time <strong>of</strong>f work to look after <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
<strong>wellbe<strong>in</strong>g</strong><br />
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Colleagues <strong>and</strong> friends:<br />
- Connect with empathy. Ask <strong>people</strong> how <strong>the</strong>y are do<strong>in</strong>g<br />
- Listen non-judg<strong>mental</strong>ly, without <strong>in</strong>sert<strong>in</strong>g your thoughts <strong>and</strong> perspectives<br />
- Learn about allyship. Let your colleagues <strong>and</strong> friends know you care <strong>and</strong> want to<br />
amplify <strong>the</strong> message <strong>of</strong> <strong>Black</strong> Lives Matter<br />
Make sure <strong>People</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Colour</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Black</strong> <strong>people</strong> know where <strong>the</strong>y<br />
can go to get support <strong>and</strong> help if <strong>the</strong>y need it:<br />
- L<strong>in</strong>e managers<br />
- HR/<strong>People</strong> team<br />
- Mental Health First Aiders<br />
- Diversity <strong>and</strong> Inclusion network or o<strong>the</strong>r relevant groups<br />
- Employee Assistance Programme<br />
- Specialist organisations, such as:<br />
- <strong>Black</strong> M<strong>in</strong>ds Matter blackm<strong>in</strong>dsmatteruk.com<br />
- Nafsiyat, <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>tercultural <strong>the</strong>rapy centre nafsiyat.org.uk<br />
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Underst<strong>and</strong><strong>in</strong>g racism <strong>and</strong> its impact<br />
It is important that White colleagues educate <strong>the</strong>mselves on privilege, race, racism <strong>and</strong><br />
racial justice. This section provides some background <strong>in</strong>formation for ensur<strong>in</strong>g White<br />
<strong>people</strong> underst<strong>and</strong> privilege, race, racism <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>workplace</strong>, <strong>and</strong> racial justice.<br />
The four dimensions <strong>of</strong> racism<br />
The Slow Factory Foundation has set out <strong>the</strong> four dimensions <strong>of</strong> racism. By<br />
underst<strong>and</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> layers <strong>and</strong> depth <strong>of</strong> racism <strong>and</strong> underst<strong>and</strong><strong>in</strong>g how <strong>the</strong>y may be at play<br />
<strong>in</strong> our organisation, we are better able to identify it <strong>and</strong> f<strong>in</strong>d approaches to tackle it.<br />
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The extent <strong>and</strong> pervasiveness <strong>of</strong> racism<br />
The extent <strong>and</strong> pervasiveness <strong>of</strong> racism can <strong>of</strong>ten be underestimated. The two l<strong>in</strong>ks<br />
below provide some helpful <strong>in</strong>formation about racial <strong>in</strong>equality <strong>and</strong> representation <strong>in</strong><br />
management:<br />
- 11 charts demonstrat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> extent <strong>of</strong> racial <strong>in</strong>equality <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> UK:<br />
<strong>in</strong>dependent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/racism-uk-<strong>in</strong>equality-black-livesmatter-wealth-economic-<strong>health</strong>-a9567461.html<br />
- Information about <strong>the</strong> underrepresentation <strong>of</strong> <strong>People</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Colour</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Black</strong> <strong>people</strong><br />
<strong>in</strong> management positions <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> UK:<br />
<strong>in</strong>dependent.co.uk/news/bus<strong>in</strong>ess/news/black-asian-m<strong>in</strong>ority-ethnic-groupsbme-uk-management-diversity-study-a7846671.html<br />
Underst<strong>and</strong><strong>in</strong>g White privilege <strong>and</strong> White fragility<br />
White privilege does not mean that if you are White you have not experienced hardship.<br />
It simply means that you have not experienced racism, <strong>and</strong> that racism has not been a<br />
barrier to opportunity.<br />
White fragility is when White <strong>people</strong> experience discomfort when faced with <strong>in</strong>formation<br />
about racial <strong>in</strong>equality <strong>and</strong> racism. We all have to get better at sitt<strong>in</strong>g with discomfort <strong>and</strong><br />
not allow<strong>in</strong>g it to block action <strong>and</strong> change.<br />
We can use White privilege for good by:<br />
- Be<strong>in</strong>g an active anti-racist <strong>and</strong> us<strong>in</strong>g privilege to br<strong>in</strong>g about change, without<br />
fall<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> trap <strong>of</strong> White saviourism – i.e. action that is self-serv<strong>in</strong>g ra<strong>the</strong>r than<br />
a genu<strong>in</strong>e commitment to racial justice<br />
- Learn<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> teach<strong>in</strong>g o<strong>the</strong>r White <strong>people</strong> <strong>the</strong> barriers to success <strong>and</strong> explor<strong>in</strong>g<br />
how to dismantle <strong>the</strong>m<br />
- Listen<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>and</strong> amplify<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> voices <strong>of</strong> <strong>Black</strong> <strong>people</strong>/<strong>People</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Colour</strong><br />
- Confront<strong>in</strong>g racial <strong>in</strong>justices even when it’s uncomfortable<br />
- Underst<strong>and</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> power <strong>of</strong> language <strong>and</strong> actions to <strong>in</strong>clude or exclude <strong>and</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> potential to cause pa<strong>in</strong>. Statements such as ‘I don’t see colour’ or ‘I<br />
can’t believe this is still happen<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> 2020’ are unhelpful<br />
- Comment<strong>in</strong>g on <strong>the</strong> riots<br />
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Becom<strong>in</strong>g an anti-racist <strong>workplace</strong><br />
As uncomfortable as many <strong>people</strong> f<strong>in</strong>d it, <strong>the</strong> conversations that are happen<strong>in</strong>g are<br />
br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g about a more widespread recognition that systemic racism is commonplace <strong>in</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> majority <strong>of</strong> organisations.<br />
The premise <strong>of</strong> <strong>MHFA</strong> <strong>Engl<strong>and</strong></strong>’s My Whole Self campaign is that all <strong>of</strong> us, whatever our<br />
identities <strong>and</strong> life experiences, can br<strong>in</strong>g our whole selves to work.<br />
We know that is not <strong>the</strong> experience <strong>of</strong> many <strong>People</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Colour</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Black</strong> <strong>people</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
UK. Many <strong>people</strong> feel <strong>the</strong>y have to hide parts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir identity to fit <strong>in</strong> at <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>fice.<br />
When organisations empower employees to be <strong>the</strong>mselves at work, it’s better for<br />
everyone’s <strong>mental</strong> <strong>wellbe<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>and</strong> better for bus<strong>in</strong>ess. The highest perform<strong>in</strong>g <strong>workplace</strong>s<br />
are supportive <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong>clusive, with <strong>health</strong>ier work<strong>in</strong>g cultures built on respect <strong>and</strong><br />
collaboration.<br />
At an organisational level we must make a public commitment to be<strong>in</strong>g anti-racist <strong>and</strong><br />
follow through with concrete actions for change. This may <strong>in</strong>clude <strong>the</strong> follow<strong>in</strong>g<br />
depend<strong>in</strong>g on your start<strong>in</strong>g po<strong>in</strong>t:<br />
- A review <strong>of</strong> policies <strong>and</strong> protocols through an anti-racist lens<br />
- Underst<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> diversity <strong>of</strong> your workforce at all levels <strong>and</strong> take action to address<br />
lack <strong>of</strong> representation where necessary<br />
- Make sure project teams <strong>and</strong> decision tables <strong>in</strong>clude <strong>people</strong> from diverse<br />
backgrounds, <strong>and</strong> that credit is given to <strong>the</strong> <strong>people</strong> who have been <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
work<br />
- Provide high quality learn<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> development opportunities on race, racism, be<strong>in</strong>g<br />
anti-racist <strong>and</strong> an ally, White privilege, language, microaggressions, <strong>and</strong> racial<br />
gaslight<strong>in</strong>g. This article from Harvard Bus<strong>in</strong>ess Review is an excellent summary <strong>of</strong><br />
how to be a better ally:<br />
hbr.org/2020/07/how-to-be-a-better-ally-to-your-black-colleagues<br />
We must all do all we can with our words <strong>and</strong> our actions to<br />
champion <strong>the</strong> message that <strong>Black</strong> Lives Matter, <strong>and</strong> race equity<br />
<strong>and</strong> racial justice matters.<br />
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At <strong>MHFA</strong> <strong>Engl<strong>and</strong></strong> we have chosen to use <strong>the</strong> terms ‘<strong>Black</strong> <strong>people</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />
<strong>People</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Colour</strong>’ toge<strong>the</strong>r because this better reflects <strong>the</strong> diverse lived<br />
experiences <strong>of</strong> communities who are affected by racial <strong>in</strong>equality <strong>and</strong><br />
racism. We do not use <strong>the</strong> term <strong>Black</strong>, Asian <strong>and</strong> M<strong>in</strong>ority Ethnic<br />
because it does not recognise <strong>and</strong> celebrate <strong>the</strong> diversity <strong>of</strong> identities<br />
<strong>and</strong> experiences.<br />
We have published a statement <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>tent on race equity with a set <strong>of</strong><br />
commitments <strong>and</strong> actions which you can f<strong>in</strong>d at<br />
mhfaengl<strong>and</strong>.org/mhfa-centre/news/statement-<strong>of</strong>-<strong>in</strong>tent<br />
To read CMI’s guidance on race visit<br />
https://www.managers.org.uk/community/communitynetworks/cmi-race/<br />
To f<strong>in</strong>d out more about <strong>the</strong> My Whole Self campaign visit<br />
mhfaengl<strong>and</strong>.org/my-whole-self<br />
Thank you to <strong>the</strong> follow<strong>in</strong>g organisations for <strong>the</strong>ir support <strong>in</strong><br />
develop<strong>in</strong>g this guidance<br />
©2020 Mental Health First Aid (<strong>MHFA</strong>) <strong>Engl<strong>and</strong></strong> 7