Black and Minority Ethnic Mental Health

The Bangladeshi Welfare Association in Portsmouth asked people from their community about what affected their mental health and wellbeing. People talked about the racism they face and although many people cope with this, they felt it had an effect on their well being. They also said that they did not know who could help with mental health problems and who to turn to when things get too much.

There are many factors which may contribute to changes to your mental health. Equally, there are a number of different signs and symptoms you may experience.

• Find out more about mental health on the NHS choices web pages.

How can I get help?

The first thing you should do is contact your doctor, the GP. You can often choose whether you want to see a man or a woman.

Your doctor may be able to help you and your family, or suggest other people who can help like The Community Mental Health Team who can see you at a local office near to your home. The team includes mental health nurses, specialist doctors in mental health and occupational therapists.

The departments Black and Minority Ethnic(BME) Community Development Officers can also help you find the advice and support you need. Your local community development officer can help you to understand what to expect when visiting the doctor or mental health specialist to discuss how you are feeling.

Sometimes having someone to talk or accessing a community group is helpful. These groups help to improve communications between communities and services and therefore help to bring communities together. They will include Cultural resources and Faith groups which highlight the importance of faith and culture in today’s services.

Contact the Community Development Officers for your area, who will be happy to give you information about these groups.