PrideStart - MentallHealth

This Project is using community-based relationships to develop a specific community investment model that engages and trains BME youths, elders and workers in mental health care. The focus of the project is on depression, dementia and Alzheimers.

PrideStart Group’s credible relationships with BME youths, Women, Men, elders and age organisations will be harnessed to strengthen as well as help exchange information, practice and developments.

Using methods of community engagement - that trains BME communities and workers to address specific aspects of mental health - will build up a good climate in mental health work as well as create investment in the abilities and capacities of people and organisations in the community.

· collate and co-ordinate good examples of practice, including mental health support developed with BME age sector – particularly specific aspects of mental health issues and solutions.

· assessment to deliver mental health care to BME elders using sound research evidence and developed practice in the context of the BME elder experience, cultural responsiveness and mental health approaches

· develop the capacity and confidence of the BME mental health and social care community, which uses well-developed and recognised models of community engagement.

· advancing the work developed in dementia by extending to other mental health issues notably depression

· concentrating on and co-coordinating good practice while developing capacity by training BME elders and workers directly through the care pathway:

· investing in a community-centred approach with solutions found to address a near hidden problem implementing the Government’s DRE in Mental Health Action Plan concerning BME elders

· increasing the ability and capacity of organisations responsible for its implementation

· giving recognition to specific ethnic and gender differences among BME elders in mental health care

The project has been identifying areas of good practice: projects, services, publications and partners. The Project has established links and information exchange with many strategic and operational/research organisations – many of who sit on the Better Mental Health for BME Elders Working Group.

Through NHS Birmingham East and North PTC Community development Team, the received small funds to run a Direct Payment (Individualized budget) Project translating into Somalis language and offering advice and guidance to elderly people.

In 2008, PrideStart Group carried out an appraisal of more than 10 mental health policy and research documents. This exercise highlighted the key service gaps and concerns for BME elders accessing mental health services, which informed the development of the training programme.

This exercise revealed that there is a real need for statutory agencies in the health, social care and criminal justice sectors to receive training on cultural competence. And, there is a real need for community-based groups to understand the referral pathways of mental health services.

Consequently, PrideStart group – in collaboration with its partners – has developed a community education training programme that integrates:

Raising the awareness of those who work in the voluntary sector on the referral pathways for minority ethnic elders accessing mental health services (particularly depression, dementia and Alzheimers)

Raising the cultural competence of professionals who come into contact with elders from the Somalis, Ethiopians, Sudanese, Arabs, Asian and African communities

PrideStart Group and members of the Working Group felt it was crucial that the voluntary sector organisations (which provide BME mental health advice, advocacy or support services to BME elders) understood the referral pathways – if they are to support or advise BME elders.

It is vital that professionals working in the field of mental health have an understanding of the cultural needs of the BME communities. PrideStart Group felt that this would enhance communication and co-operation between professionals and practitioners working on behalf of BME elders with depression or dementia (and their carers) in the voluntary sector and statutory agencies.

Both stages are essential to deliver effective services that engage BME elders with depression or dementia (and their carers) as well as build a strong working relationship between the two sectors - ensuring sustainability as well as developing a better understanding of the services that each sector delivers.

This project is funded by Birmingham Community Foundation,Awards for All,Health Exchange,NHS Heart of England,Digbeth Trust.

If you require more information about the Mental Health for BME Elders Project, please contact Mental Health Team 01216619360 or on 07534007054
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PrideStart Account Number 53097706 Sort Code 200898 Barclays Bank 534 Coventry Road Small Heath Birmingham B10 0UP