COVENTRY AND WARWICKSHIRE SERVICE TACKLING MENTAL HEALTH INEQUALITIES AMONG YOUNG BLACK MEN

A service in Coventry and Warwickshire that aims to increase young black men’s engagement with preventative mental health support is showing excellent results.

The Young Black Men’s Service, run by Coventry, Warwickshire and Worcestershire Mind, delivers tailored support to local young black men that is designed to help them talk about and access support for their mental health and wellbeing.

Historically, young black men have been less likely to engage with preventative mental  health services. This is due to a range of factors, including the under-representation of black men working in mental health services and the stigma that exists in some cultures that can make it difficult for young black men to speak openly about mental health.

What makes this service different is that it has been created for young black men by young black men. The outreach workers and mentors who provide the support are black men themselves, meaning they can relate to the young men and understand the challenges they face. Support is offered in both one-to-one and group sessions and is tailored to the needs of an individual or group.

The difference the service is making is clear, with 90.7% of young men using the service showing an improvement in their mental wellbeing as measured by the Warwick Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale. The feedback from the young men has also been extremely positive, with 100% of respondents saying their mental health had improved, 100% saying they felt listened to and respected and 96.9% saying they felt less alone or isolated because of the support they’ve received.

Following its initial success, the service is now in the process of expanding, including adding two new team members and increasing the range of support they offer. You can read a detailed case study of the Young Black Men’s Service, which features a video where team members speak about the service, on the Happy Healthy Lives website.

The service is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund’s Reaching Communities England funding programme, which provides funding to services that support places, people or communities experiencing poverty, disadvantage or discrimination.

The Young Black Men’s Service is an excellent example of how organisations across Coventry and Warwickshire are delivering on the Prevention Concordat for Better Mental Health, which commits organisations to work proactively to improve mental health outcomes for local communities.

Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care System, which brings together NHS  organisations, local authorities and voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector organisations who deliver health and care services, is a signatory to the Concordat and are supporting and delivering a range of projects and services designed to improve the mental health and wellbeing of local people. You can read more about the Concordat and how it’s being delivered on in Coventry and Warwickshire on the ICS website.

Steven Hill, CEO of Coventry, Warwickshire and Worcestershire Mind, said:

“I’m delighted to see the positive impact the Young Black Men’s Service is having and how well it has been received by those who have used it. Having support that is delivered by people that young black men can relate to is crucial to building trust and confidence in mental health services, and the results we’ve seen are a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the planned expansion of the service, which will allow us to take more referrals and reach even more young people in need of support.”

Jamaine Brown, Team Leader of the Young Black Men’s Service, said:

“Being part of this service means a lot to me. As a young black man, I know how hard it can be for the young men who use the service to open up and talk about their mental health. Working on the service means I’ve seen firsthand the difference that offering support in a way that the young people can relate to has on them. I’m proud to be part of something that is playing such an important role in breaking down stigmas and improving the mental health of young black men across Coventry and Warwickshire.”

Danielle Oum, Chair of Coventry and Warwickshire ICS, said:

“The Young Black Men’s Service is an excellent example of how taking a proactive approach can address mental health inequalities. The new NHS 10 Year Health Plan places a focus on preventing people from becoming unwell, and this is evidence that we’re already at the forefront of this in Coventry and Warwickshire. I’m looking forward to seeing how the service grows and how this approach can help to inform other services within our health and care system.”