Tackling Mental Health Inequalities Through Personalised Care
At Nafsiyat, we understand that mental health care is not one-size-fits-all. The needs of each individual are unique, and addressing mental health challenges requires a tailored, personalised approach. For racially marginalised communities, the situation is often more complex, as these groups face additional barriers in accessing the support they need. This is why our work focuses on delivering personalised care that is culturally sensitive and inclusive.
Recently, the Race Equality Foundation released a new report in collaboration with the Association of Mental Health Providers. The report highlights the urgent need to tackle inequalities in mental health services, particularly for Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities. It also emphasises the transformative potential of personalised care, such as Personal Health Budgets (PHBs), in addressing these disparities.
The Power of Personalised Care
Personalised care puts the individual at the centre of their mental health journey. It focuses on what truly matters to them, enabling better health and well-being outcomes. One tool that has proven effective in this regard is the Personal Health Budget (PHB). PHBs give people greater choice, flexibility, and control over the care they receive, allowing them to tailor their mental health support to meet their specific needs.
The Race Equality Foundation’s new report underlines how PHBs, when effectively implemented, can significantly improve outcomes for people from racially marginalised communities. However, it also notes that many individuals from these groups continue to face barriers in accessing PHBs, which contributes to ongoing mental health inequalities.
Addressing Mental Health Inequalities
We are committed to breaking down these barriers. We provide intercultural therapy, which recognises the impact of cultural background on mental health. Our therapists are trained to offer support that is not only compassionate and professional but also culturally relevant. This is crucial in ensuring that our clients feel understood and supported, especially those from communities that have historically been underserved by mainstream mental health services.
The Race Equality Foundation’s report calls for greater collaboration with grassroots organisations to improve access to mental health care for Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic communities. As a charity with deep roots in North London’s diverse communities, Nafsiyat is proud to work alongside smaller, community-led organisations to extend our reach and ensure that mental health care is accessible to those who need it most.
Collaboration is Key
We know that addressing mental health inequalities requires more than just providing therapy. It’s about creating a system of care that listens to the needs of the community. That’s why we collaborate closely with other voluntary and community sector organisations to offer holistic support to our clients. These partnerships are vital in reaching individuals who may otherwise fall through the cracks of the health system.
The report also highlights the importance of providing education and awareness about mental health services, including PHBs, among racially marginalised communities. At Nafsiyat, we are dedicated to increasing awareness of these services through our outreach programmes, such as our Intercultural Outreach project, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to access the mental health care they need and deserve.
Moving Forward
The release of the Race Equality Foundation’s report reaffirms the importance of our mission. We remain dedicated to providing personalised, culturally informed mental health care to racially marginalised communities. As the conversation around mental health equality continues, we will keep pushing for greater access to services like PHBs and advocating for the needs of the communities we serve.
We believe that everyone deserves access to mental health care that is personalised, respectful, and effective. By continuing to focus on the individual needs of our clients and working closely with our community partners, we are confident that we can help address the deep-rooted inequalities in mental health care.