Culturally Appropriate Mental Health Fund

Black Health Agency, Empower Consultants, Fikawelie and ACMHS have formed a partnership to deliver culturally appropriate mental health interventions in Manchester and Trafford to people from South Asian communities and Black African and Caribbean origin including dual heritage people who are experiencing severe mental illness.

The partnership will provide a 6-to-8-week holistic programme to all individuals comprising a range of one-to-one sessions, workshops and mentoring as follows:

• Therapist – A pool of therapists are available so that individuals can be matched with their inherent value base and/or personality traits, offering the choice of a therapist of the same racial group.
• Education – Mindfulness/emotional intelligence/ functional skills is available and offered at the individuals pace. Sessions will be offered covering basic IT skills, self-management, and confidence/ resilience building, dealing with negative thinking.
• Health and Fitness – We have a pool of mental health trained fitness trainers within Manchester and Trafford who will offer one to one personal training to build confidence for individuals to reconnect with the gym or outdoor exercise. We also offer sessional swimming lessons at local leisure facilities such as those in Stretford and Moss Side.
• Other activities – Art, Poetry, Music, Sewing/ dress making, Health and wellbeing, cooking. These activities will be provided on a weekly basis at ACMHS facilities and other community venues where relevant.
• BAME lived experience mentoring – We have trained BAME mentors. We want to offer all our clients an opportunity to work with them and aspire to acquire additional knowledge skills and inspiration.
• Medication management – The provision of face-to-face clinics with a Non-Medical Nurse Prescriber and a Community Pharmacist. The Nurse Prescriber will be responsible for reviewing the physical health and can provide prescriptions if required.

The Community Pharmacist will provide an accessible, specialist, culturally appropriate assessment to establish whether they are taking other medications, such as over-the-counter medicines or herbal remedies, alongside their prescribed medication.

In addition, we are offering free training to health professionals to work culturally sensitively with individuals with severe mental illness.

If you would like to know more about this programme, please contact us on 0300 323 0612.