Community Engagement
Research has shown that people from Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities are more likely to experience:
- Problems in accessing Services
- Lower satisfaction with Services
- Cultural & language barriers in assessments
- Lower GP involvement in Care
- Inadequate Community-based Crisis Care
- Lower involvement of Service Users, Family and Carers
- Inadequate support for Community initiatives
- An adversive pathway into Mental Health Services
Our Community Engagement projects work to reduce/eliminate ethnic inequalities in Mental Health.
Our target is to become more responsive, and work with communities to create, support and implement ethnically sensitive and culturally specific services that will better meet the needs of Bexley residents from black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Communities. We work to ensure Racial Equality, Social inclusion, and Community Cohesion.
All the service work with community leaders and minorities are aimed at utilising preventative approaches, i.e. access to self help activities, building of social networks, and engaging with socially inclusive activities, and is intended to achieve improved cross sector working.
Bexley Bangladeshi Women’s Association Health and Wellbeing Project
This project is run by the Bexley Bangladeshi Women’s Association.
The main purpose of the Health and Wellbeing project is to provide health seminars, organise cultural events to share ideas and experiences and preserve Bangladeshi heritage, organise activities including sewing, IT and English classes .
The group functions to reduce isolation, improve self-confidence and self esteem which enables participants to function more effectively in society. The group meets from 11am – 1pm every Tuesday at Mind.
Vietnamese and Chinese Wellbeing Support Club
This project is a partnership between Mind in Bexley and Bexley Council for Race Equality and is run by the Vietnamese and Chinese Mental Health Link-worker.
The Link-workers post is funded by the Partnership Fund to provide bilingual advice and information to the Chinese and Vietnamese communities in Bexley.
The aims of the project are to reduce isolation, promote mental health awareness, provide cultural activities and to support and assist people suffering from mental and emotion distress in order to improve their wellbeing. Link: www.bexleycre.org.uk
The Eastern European Coffee Morning Wellbeing and Friendship Group
Mind in Bexley in partnership with the South East Russian Language Society (SERLS Friendship) are hosting coffee mornings at Mind in Bexley every Thursday from 10am -12 noon for Bexley residents from Eastern Europe.
Using the medium of coffee mornings in an informal setting, the group focuses on wellbeing initiatives. This medium is chosen because unlike many other types of provision it is culturally appropriate and results in more numbers accessing and engaging in the group.
Yoga and other therapeutic activities are provided. The scheme develops, empowers and provides participants with long-term life skills which reduces isolation and enhances independence and well being.
Sonas – Irish in Bexley project
This project provides welfare and benefit advice, individual and community support and assistance on health to Irish residents of Bexley.
The project is a partnership between Mind in Bexley and the Irish in Greenwich Project.
The weekly session is held at Mind in Bexley every Thursday from 2-5pm.