Kindred Minds Manifesto Raza Griffiths Kindred Minds Manifesto

Kindred Minds Manifesto Raza Griffiths Kindred Minds Manifesto Project Lead NSUN London & BME Consultant raza. griffiths@nsun. org. uk m: 07737 647 445

A diagrammatic representation of the role of the NSUN London & BME consultant This powerpoint focuses on this area of work London Networking Social Justice Strengthening capacity, voice & influence of individuals & groups. Connecting & mobilising the NSUN London membership. Addressing inequalities & intersectionality for those experiencing distress, disadvantage & discrimination. 150 NSUN groups THRIVE Healthy London Partnership NHS London Clinical Network Kindred Minds Manifesto Publish & launch Manifesto Local roots with national relevance Facebook group Mapping Supporting collective activity & action Mobilising communities Policy influence Inequality National BME Lankelly Chase BME Leadership. Reconnecting activists & leaders. Mobilising wider network of BME survivor activists. Potential workshop participants.

Kindred Minds is a Black and Minority Ethnic mental health service user group in Southwark is one of six London boroughs identified by London Thrive as having a high level of factors predisposing communities to risk of mental ill health. It also has the second highest total Black population in the whole country (26% at 2011 census) We aim to enhance the well-being, coping and recovery and promote the rights of people from BME communities affected by mental distress in Southwark and neighbouring areas

here are some Kindred Minds members at the screening of 'Shoot The Messenger‘, a film exploring issues around Black identity, BFI Southbank, 15 th November 2016 This person like many others we consulted with, didn’t want to be identified due to fears of being discriminated against because of having used mental health services. But the manifesto aims to give people like this person a voice

We have been writing a BME mental health service user led Manifesto, informed by 18 consultations with BME mental health service users and extensive literature review Blackfriars Settlement, Southwark, June 2016 Black Cultural Archives, Brixton, Nov 2016 St Peter’s Church, Southwark, Oct 2015 The Manifesto sets out our collective vision of the issues affecting us and what we believe needs to change in policies and practices to make a positive difference to our mental health

Whilst we began in Southwark, we heard from BME service users from neighbouring boroughs, from across London, the whole country and even internationally Their voices all helped to inform the Manifesto

What does “BME service user led mental health manifesto” mean? “BME” “…all groups which have historically faced racialised discrimination based on ideas, arising from the history of colonialism, about the superiority of White communities and alienation by dominant white society based on skin colour, ‘race’, ethnicity, cultural practices, religion, nationality and migration status” “Service user led” “…the consultees, advisory group and Manifesto writers are BME people who have used mental health services and support” “Mental health” “…a state of balance or wellbeing, which is influenced by a broad range of personal, familial and wider social factors including racism” “Manifesto” “…a declaration of intentions, motives, and views, which draws on a wider consensus and promotes an idea for carrying out change in a defined way”

The process of writing the Manifesto 1. Summarised key findings from Kindred Minds’ work and other BME work presented at 18 consultations Kindred Minds’ work External initiatives relating to BME mental health 2. Consultation participants reflect on key findings and formulate key demands and ways forward 3. Advisory group oversees manifesto drafting experiences aspirations demands Ways forward 4. Manifesto written and launched The manifesto 5. The Action group leads on putting manifesto into action

Aims and objectives Establish credible & vocal BME service user lobby Strong articulate BME service user voice Specific objectives Produce & promote manifesto Specific aims Policymakers and practitioners can better respond to our demands Overall aim Create mechanisms to get our voice heard More public awareness of our issues Better quality of life for BME people with experience of mental health issues service users in Southwark and neighbouring boroughs

Actions and intended results Actions (outputs) Set up Advisory Group To advise on manifesto process (18 consultation events) and wording of manifesto Produce and circulate manifesto online and 2000 printed Manifesto launch attendees including policy makers and practitioners Creating partnership working with policy makers and practitioners Results (outcomes) Users more articulate and confident at voicing collective demands BME service user views promoted to a broad disability audience Key decision makers read manifesto. Enhanced public awareness of user issues We positively influence policy and practice

Media Coverage of Kindred Minds Manifesto South London Press November 2016

Issues brought up in the literature and discussed in the consultations

“There is a Bigger Picture to [BME] mental ill health but all we get are scattered initiatives, inadequately funded and temporary, which attempt to deal with bits of the jigsaw (if that)” fairer criminal justice system we can all trust in intersectional oppression reform mental health services knowledge production and research then streng tary olun BME v or sect en gth port n e r st er Sup Pe ME B fairer and less intimidating benefits system en su ha re e ad s s eq afe veryo ua te and ne ho usi ng fo su r im and you ppo pr p ng rt su ov are p pp e e n eo or du ts, ple t f ca an or ti d ad on ult al s political will to challenge disadvantage em fai pra ploy rer na m c em tac tion tices ent plo kle al s an ym rac tra d a en e b teg t in ase y t eq d o ua liti es me ani inv ngful me olvem servic nta l h ent i e use and ealth n the r soc syste iety m physical ill health of mental health service users

Quotes from the Manifesto: “Racism is a political issue. Inequality is a political issue. Mental health is a political issue. We should hold politicians to account. ” “It’s not just about looking at improving services that fix us; it’s also about looking at what broke us in the first place. ” “There's a modern day Bermuda Triangle for black men, which is located between the 3 points of; Education ( the entry point), Criminal Justice and Mental Health. Thousands will pass through, but a disproportionately high number will quite literally disappear within this black man's Bermuda triangle. ”

“Racism is a political issue. Inequality is a political issue. Mental health is a political issue. We should hold politicians to account…” – Consultation participant We are launching an audit [to] … highlight the differences in outcomes for people of different backgrounds, in every area from health to education, childcare to welfare, employment, skills and criminal justice. This audit will reveal difficult truths, but we should not be apologetic about shining a light on injustices as never before. It is only by doing so we can make this country work for everyone, not just a privileged few - Theresa May, June 2016 Mental health service users have told us that the effects of Government policies do not tie in with the Government’s stated commitment to social justice

Kindred Minds Manifesto topline demands (1) Establishment of a government ministry position which is responsible for developing and implementing a national race equality strategy • Improved co-ordination among agencies working on race equality across interlinked life areas and different life stages • Policies and practices which better address the multiple forms of marginalisation affecting people within BME communities, and not solely racism • Better funding for independent BME mental health service user-led peer support • Mental health services that exclude detention and compulsory treatment and provide support based on diverse understandings of mental health that BME communities can relate to • Mental health services which are co-developed with BME service users and communities and based increasingly in the community rather than in clinical settings • A BME voluntary sector which is not disproportionately affected by funding cuts but instead strengthened in recognition of the important role it plays in maintaining BME mental wellbeing • A fair benefits system which is not cut back in a way that disproportionately penalises BME communities but offers us adequate and timely support and takes proper account of our life circumstances • The tackling of BME employment inequalities with greater protection against insecure and unfair work conditions, including for undocumented migrants • An end to the pressure on mental health service users to take on work before we are ready • Elimination of housing policies that particularly disadvantage BME communities along with the creation of more social housing, better regulation of private sector rents and standards and proper consideration for the wishes of LGBT BME asylum seekers when they are being housed

Kindred Minds Manifesto topline demands (2) Schools that put the wellbeing and resilience of BME students at the heart of the curriculum by celebrating Black achievement and taking tough action against racist and other bullying Better support for BME parents and other adults including more funding for English language classes without any strings attached Recovery Colleges that better reflect the ethnic diversity of the areas where they are located • A criminal justice system that BME communities can trust in based on better liaison among police, mental health services and BME mental health service users • A ban on heavy-handed and discriminatory police practices including the use of police cells as places of safety and stop-andsearch • Better access to mechanisms to challenge injustice and the creation of a new independent police and criminal justice watchdog to monitor police involvement in mental health incidents and highlight discriminatory practice • A more coordinated response to physical ill health and mental distress with a focus on community-based supports developed in conjunction with BME service users and the BME voluntary sector • Better provision of information about all effects of medication • More power, decision-making and meaningful involvement for BME mental health service users in health policy and practice • More equal and respectful cooperation between BME service user and non-BME service user organisations • Encouragement of BME service user involvement in campaigns across a wide range of social justice issues that impact on BME mental health – for example, community policing, the Whiteness of academic knowledge and government proposals for mental health legislative reform