BY NIKKI ADEBIYI, FOUNDER @ BOUNCE BLACK

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Manifestos and campaigns are well underway in the run up to the UK General Election on July 4th, 2024. As each political party has publicised their promises, various interest groups have been scanning them in hopes of seeing a commitment to take action about a cause they care about. Over here at Bounce Black, we are doing no different.

I’ve been uploading various free resource guides for our community over the past few weeks, including a comprehensive guide to the UK General Election. Of course, it’s tailored to a Black British audience, so we have focused the guide on the issues that typically impact us most.

Although we are impartial as far as parties are concerned, and we do not advocate for any particular parties or candidates, we do still approach policy and governance with a consistent focus: how do they affect the Black community?

Accordingly, we are proud to be part of the Black Mental Health and Wellbeing Alliance (BMHWA), a coalition formed by individuals and groups, including Black and racialised people with lived experience, caregivers, practitioners, researchers, and representatives from community organisations and national charities. You can view a full list of supporters on the website.

Here’s a little bit about the Black Mental Health Manifesto we’re supporting and a comparison of how each party’s promises fare in relation to it:

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The Black Mental Health Manifesto

The Black Mental Health Manifesto contains six key asks from the next Government which will facilitate the flourishing of Black people in the UK in mind and body, namely through:

1. A comprehensive government strategy to eradicate racism, led by a cabinet-level minister.
   
2. Reform of the Mental Health Act to address disproportionate detention rates of Black individuals.
   
3. Ending hostile environment policies affecting refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants.
   
4. Embedding NHS England’s Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework in all mental health services.
   
5. Developing an anti-racist, diverse curriculum in schools.
   
6. Investment in community-led research on Black mental health.

For more context about the rationale for these asks, check out the full manifesto here and a summary version here.

Why Black mental health matters

Black individuals in the UK face significant disparities in mental health care, reflected in both the prevalence of mental health issues and the access to and outcomes of treatment.

Key Statistics:

• Prevalence and Treatment:
  • Black adults have a higher prevalence of common mental health problems, with 23% experiencing such issues weekly, compared to 17% among White British adults​ (Mind)​.
  • Despite this higher prevalence, only 6% of Black adults receive mental health treatment, compared to 13% of White British adults​ (Mind)​.

• Specific Mental Health Challenges:
  • Black men are significantly more likely to experience symptoms of psychosis, with rates at 3.2% compared to 0.3% among White men​ (Mind)​.
  • Black individuals are also more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, with 8% experiencing symptoms compared to 4% of White British adults​ (Mind)​.

• Detention Under the Mental Health Act:
  • Black people are disproportionately detained under the Mental Health Act, with a detention rate of 342 per 100,000, which is significantly higher than the 72 per 100,000 rate for White people​ (NHS Digital)​.

Barriers to Accessing Mental Health Care:

• Systemic Racism and Discrimination:
  • Many Black individuals anticipate racism within the healthcare system, which discourages them from seeking help​ (Mind)​​ (Mental Health UK)​.
  • Stigma and cultural barriers also play a role, with mental health issues often not recognised or prioritised within some communities​ (Mental Health UK)​.

• Cultural and Language Barriers:
  • There is often a lack of culturally sensitive treatment, and language barriers can prevent effective communication and support​ (Mental Health UK)​.
  • Black individuals are more likely to distrust healthcare professionals and feel that their experiences are not understood or respected​ (Mental Health UK)​.

What needs doing

Several key changes are essential for transforming the state of Black mental health in the UK, in addition to the asks of the manifesto:

Culturally Competent Care:

Increase the availability of culturally sensitive mental health services and ensure that healthcare professionals are trained to understand and respect cultural differences. Without this, Black people will continue to go underserved by prevention services and overrepresented in crisis care. Cultural nuances and personality traits will be pathologised and therefore Black people who struggle with their mental health will go without the help they need.

Community Engagement:

Work with community-led organisations to provide support and resources tailored to the needs of Black communities​. We know ourselves and our people best, so it matters that mental health services come alongside faith and community-based organisations who typically have built the prerequisite trust that is often needed to enable effective interaction with mental health services.

Addressing Systemic Bias:

Implement policies to reduce systemic racism and bias within the mental health care system, ensuring equitable treatment for all​. This involves tackling discrimination and discrediting from assessment and diagnosis to treatment and care. Black patients must be treated with dignity and respect, not subject to dehumanisation or downplaying of their experiences.

Improving Access and Awareness:

Enhance awareness and accessibility of mental health services through targeted outreach and education campaigns in Black communities​. Again, partnering with local and faith-based organisations who are already well rooted in Black communities can go a long way towards increasing understanding of mental health as well as encouraging prevention and recovery.

What can I do to support Black mental health?

To support the goals of the Black Mental Health Manifesto, you can take several actions, including:

• View our election guide to understand party promises as they relate to mental health, racial equity and social mobility. Decide for yourself which party or parties best aligns with the asks of the Black Mental Health Manifesto.

• Advocate for policies and candidates that align with the manifesto’s demands, such as government strategies to eradicate racism, reforms to the Mental Health Act, and the development of anti-racist curricula in schools.

• Engage with and donate to community-led organisations focused on Black mental health. You can start here with our list of external services and resources we regularly signpost to.

• Raise awareness about the disparities in mental health care and support efforts to embed equality frameworks in health services. Your active participation and voice can drive significant change.

• Vote, vote, vote, vote, vote!

• Look after yourself.

Overall, it is both a good and hard time to be Black in this economy, in this society and in this climate. Working towards change requires transformation from the top-down and organisation from the bottom-up. In other words, as we often say, all hands on deck.

Support the Black Mental Health Manifesto