I'm sure we were not alone in being astounded and angered by the Sewell report denying the reality of systemic racism in this country. This flies in the face of the experience of people from racialised communities and the evidence we have encountered countless times in our research. You can read our full response to the report here.
On a more positive note, we’re delighted to have shared a new podcast episode which features a conversation with Myira Khan, founder of the Muslim Counsellor and Psychotherapist Network. Hear all about her trail-blazing work on enabling access to culturally informed approaches in counselling here.
This month we also published research on maternal mental health during the pandemic, which details the impact that Covid restrictions have had on women during pregnancy and after birth. We’ve made some key recommendations that would ensure women’s mental health is better protected, both in the aftermath of the pandemic and in any future crisis situations.
Lastly, we want to thank every single person who has contributed their story of the pandemic to our A Year in Our Lives project. Together you’ve helped us create such an incredibly valuable archive of lived experience. You can read all the pieces we’ve published here– watch this space as we have more stories still in the pipeline.
As we cautiously emerge from this lockdown we hope that you’re able to safely enjoy new possibilities, whether it’s a fresh trim, a swim at the local pool or an evening with friends.
We conducted a rapid evidence review of the impact of Covid-19 on the mental health of new and expectant mothers, and the support that’s been available during the pandemic.
Commissioned by Maternal Mental Health Alliance and funded by Comic Relief, the report finds that women and their families have faced extra pressures on their mental health, including anxiety about giving birth during lockdown, fears about losing employment, and increasing levels of domestic violence.
Watch the launch event for our report on maternal mental health during the pandemic, where our researchers share their findings alongside voices of lived experience and additional insight from a panel of perinatal practitioners.
Racism is toxic to mental health. Racial inequality and injustice are deeply entrenched in our society and the harm they cause can last a lifetime. The Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities report provides a partial picture of racial injustice in the UK and its effects on mental health and life chances, and fails to make recommendations to bring about change.
We want to say a huge thank you to each and every person who's taken the time to share their story of the pandemic with us. We're incredibly grateful for your openness and trust. We've now closed submissions but we encourage you all to read these amazing pieces which paint a collective picture of the pandemic and its impact on our mental health. More stories coming soon!
Myira Khan, founder of the Muslim Counsellor and Psychotherapist Network, joins Kadra and Alethea to discuss the need for a more representative mental health workforce, and the barriers that stigma and language can create for people seeking mental health support.
We are offering a Kickstart placement in Administration, open to applicants who are under 25, currently unemployed and claiming Universal Credit.
The Internal Business Administrator will support our vital work by carrying out a wide range of administration tasks for our Chief Executive, Directors and researchers, managing internal organisational governance and human resources tasks, and helping with external events.
We’ve had a great number of applications for the new 4-day IPS Leadership training course, commissioned by Health Education England and written in partnership with Social Finance and IPS Grow. We are currently shortlisting and will be in touch with all applicants very soon.
If you are not directly delivering IPS and are interested in how IPS services work, you may be interested in our "Supporting What Works" course. This course trains OTs, recovery leads, managers and wider mental health team members in the essentials of IPS and in how to support IPS co-workers in achieving successful client employment outcomes. Book your place.
