Why mental health equality must be at the heart of Covid recovery plans

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Centre for Mental Health news


** May 2020
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Hello from Sarah!
Dear Friends,

It is hard to believe we are now in July, what a year 2020 has been. Over the last month I have had many conversations with my peers about the horrific murder of George Floyd, and I want to take this moment to send love and solidarity to his family and all the families that have lost loved ones because of racism.

We at the Centre, as a group and as individuals, have committed to doing the work to ensure that we are not only allies in solidarity but that we are actively anti-racist in everything we do. We are in no doubt that our role is both to examine our approach introspectively and also enter in the debate within civil society about how we can do better now and in the future. Right now we are working on understanding what being anti-racist means for our organisation by talking as a staff group and with our organisational partners. We don’t want to put out public statements that are not co-produced and understood, this will take time.

In the meantime we want to honour #BlackLivesMatter and will continue our work striving for equality and justice. We've just published a new briefing ([link removed]) on understanding inequalities in mental health during the pandemic, which calls on the Government to take urgent action to address race inequality in mental health. Our webinar on the key findings from the briefing is available to watch here ([link removed]) . You can read an excellent blog on the effects of racism on mental health by our Head of Children and Young People, Kadra, here ([link removed]) .

Take care and see you soon.

Sarah

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Covid-19: understanding inequalities in mental health during the pandemic ([link removed])

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought health inequalities into sharp focus. The unequal impacts of the virus are also extending inequalities in mental health.

This briefing paper finds that the virus and the lockdown are putting greater pressure on groups and communities whose mental health was already poorer and more precarious.

The report calls on the Government to take urgent action to address race inequality in mental health, including the urgent need for funding for organisations working in communities most affected by the pandemic.

Download the report ([link removed])
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Listen to a discussion on the key findings from the briefing in the webinar we held on understanding inequalities in mental health during the pandemic.

A Year in Our Lives 2020
Our new story-telling project about Covid-19 and the impact on people's mental health is now open for submissions ([link removed]) .

We're collecting individual stories in order to build a bigger picture of the pandemic's impact on mental health. We need to hear from as many people and perspectives as possible to do so.

Whether you have a mental health difficulty or not, whatever age you are, wherever you are from, we want to hear from you in your own words about how coronavirus and the disruption to daily life have affected your mental health. Find out more about sharing your story here ([link removed]) .
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Here's Alethea outlining the project and sharing some guidance on how you could start writing about your experience of living through the pandemic.

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One of our Expert Advisors for AYIOL, David Gilbert, shares his top three writing tips. Why not use these as inspiration to get started on writing about your own experience?

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Supporting mental health during Covid-19: a brief guide ([link removed])

Hertfordshire County Council have commissioned us to produce a short guide for looking after our mental health, during the lockdown and in the months to come.

This resource is intended to be used in workplaces, communities, organisations and charities as a very brief guide to having a conversation about mental health. It provides links to sources of help and support as well as practical ideas and information for people who may need some support to maintain their wellbeing during these challenging times.

Download the guide ([link removed])
We've got the evidence of health inequalities - what we need is change.

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Sarah Hughes chats to Poppy Jaman (City Mental Health Alliance) about challenging racism and discrimination in mental health, as they grapple with the million dollar question: how do we make the change we want to see?

Blogs
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Keeping our workforce well: Supporting the VCSE mental health sector ([link removed])
Sarah Hughes and Kathy Roberts on the way voluntary sector workers' needs have been overlooked despite experiencing similar traumas and anxieties to those in statutory services

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Taking care of maternal mental health during Covid-19 ([link removed])
Maria explains how the Maternal Mental Health Alliance are campaigning to support mothers and families during the pandemic

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Now is the time to act: keeping race in mind ([link removed])
Kadra reflects on the global Black Lives Matter protests, the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on BAME communities, and the effect of racism on mental health

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Nothing can be changed until it is faced: Facing up to inequalities in Covid-19 ([link removed])
Peter Molyneux considers the way Covid-19 has shone a light on health and racial inequalities

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Face masks can't protect you if you can't afford one ([link removed])
Marsha argues that action needs to be taken to ensure everyone has access to appropriate face masks

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Communication, trauma and the public's mental health ([link removed])
Andy looks at why getting coronavirus messaging right is crucial for our mental health

News
* "Business as usual is not an option": Prime Minister urged to create new Mental Health Renewal Plan for England ([link removed])
* Covid-19 could widen mental health inequalities for a generation, says Centre for Mental Health report ([link removed])
* C ([link removed]) entre for Mental Health to study impact of Covid-19 on wellbeing of whole population by asking for people's stories in own words ([link removed])

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Help us support those at the frontline of this mental health crisis ([link removed])

We know that the coronavirus pandemic is a physical health emergency on a global scale, such as we have never seen in our lifetimes. But it is also a mental health emergency. Our high quality, evidence-based research, evaluation and policy advice has never been more important during this time of uncertainty. Now more than ever, your support is so valuable.

Support us today ([link removed])

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We hope you've enjoyed hearing about our work bringing equality for mental health closer.

We'd love to hear your feedback and suggestions for this newsletter and our digital presence - drop me an email at ** [email protected] (mailto:[email protected] )
.

Best wishes,

Alethea Joshi
Digital & Communications Lead
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