This report explores the involvement of service users/survivors from black and ethnic communities in mainstream user involvement initiatives in mental health.
The report identifies a number of barriers affecting the relationships between statutory bodies and user involvement initiatives.
The report recommends:
- Link work to change mental health services with broader race and rights based initiatives in education, forensic services, citizenship rights, social inclusion, employment, income generation etc.
- Build relationships between mainstream groups and black and minority ethnic groups, between communities and between professionals and service users/survivors.
- Enable professionals from Black and minority ethnic communities to think about race related issues in their practice.
- Actively seek out groups and organisations working locally, highlight their work and endeavour to support and sustain them.