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Black Mental Health UK’s Review of 2008
This year has been like no
other in history for people of African and Caribbean decent. The election of
president elect Barack Obama was undoubtedly a high that marks the beginning of
a new era. Read
BMH UK's overview of our key news stories on events and major developments that have
shaped our lives over the last 12 months.
Doctors believe that if an
individual is suffering from an untreatable personality disorder then there can
be no justification for using mental health legislation to lock them away.
The Medway Hostel in the west midlands need
an eleventh hour reprieve in order to keep its 10 bed hostel for black mental
health survivors afloat. The Hostel which is run by Onmincare Community
services have been locked in an ongoing dispute with their local funders from
the Supporting People division of social services, at Birmingham City Council
since they committed to shutting the place down.
Legal experts
and campaigners claim coroners are failing to investigate thoroughly many of
these deaths because of a legal loophole, with the result that suspected
failures in care and even abuse are going undetected.
The Operation Black Vote (OBV) AM Shadowing
Scheme, sponsored and supported by the National Assembly for Wales has won the
highly acclaimed Channel 4 / Hansard Society Political Awards.
Slammed as ‘wholesale dismantling of the
legacy that BME communities have fought hard for' Ujima was subsumed into
the London and Quadrant Association in December last year at a speed that has
left many in the sector reeling.
Detention rates of black people in both
prisons and psychiatric units is at an all time high. Coupled with this we have
seen the highest numbers of deaths of black and minority ethnic individuals in
held in custody to date.
A warning has been issuedbased on a study in people with learning
difficulties, which found that antipsychotics were no more successful than a
dummy pill for reducing aggression. In fact, the dummy pill was more effective.
Race
equality groups have welcomed Sarah Theather's MP securing a debate to
highlight the fact that, if you are black, your details are three times more
likely to be stored on the Government's record than if you are white.
Guidance launched by the Social Care
Institute for Excellence (SCIE) published this month sets out directions for
commissioners and mental health providers on how to ensure that their
commissioning includes buying in services that provide culturally appropriate,
accessible and timely advocacy support to black patients.
Black populations of England and Wales are
more concentrated in London than any other part of the UK, so representation in
this city is critical to health, wellbeing and future prosperity of these
communities.
OBV, estimate that 50,000 more Black Londoners
vote than in the last London elections along with other communities the threat
of the far right will be addressed.
Black History Walks (BHWs) have now become
known as the quintessential way to discover London's hidden African heritage,
which is all around the capital city and beyond in the streets, institutions
and architecture of England's great metropolis.
With no registration needed, race equality
groups are urging black Londoners to attend this free meeting and get their
voice heard, in a last ditch attempt to increase voter registration from
within London's black communities' before registration for the London election
closes.
Findings from the first national statistics
on the self-reported experience of patients in black and minority ethnic groups,produced by the Department of Health and the
Healthcare Commission, show that black people in particularly continue to be
effected by discrimination when trying to access appropriate health care.
Revealing the link between a ‘sweet cuppa of
tea' and terrible crimes against humanity the exhibition entitled ‘London
Sugar and Slavery' is a must for anyone interested in learning the truth about
London's untold history.
Hosted by
Sarah Teather MP for Brent, this meeting fast on the heels of the launch
of Black Mental Health UK's campaign, calling for the removal of the details of
all mental patients who are on the database who have not been
convicted of any crime.
The online
survey, launched by the campaigns group, Black Mental Health UK is encouraging
people add their views on an issues that is increasingly impacting on greater
sections of society. With one in four people likely to be effected by
mental illness within their lifetime, there are concerns that innocent people
will inadvertently be caught in the growing criminal database net.
A new power, which has been
introduced this month, means that anyone picked and detained by the police
under Section 44, of the 2007 Mental Health Act, can now be moved to
second place of safety before they are assessed or treated.
Barbed Wire Britainis a campaigns group working to end the
punitive treatment of refugees and migrants. They set up this meeting to put
the spotlight on the long term detention of refugee and migrants and will
look at the traumatising effect of long term detention with a focus on how to
be effective in opposing it.
The role of cross cultural psychiatry was the
theme for this year's Specialist Registrar Educational Event (SPREE) for
trainee and consultant psychiatrists held in Bristol. The biannual event
brought together practitioners and health experts to examine some of the
cultural, social and political factors that influence the way psychiatrists
practice when dealing with the issues of ethnicity and mental health.
The ‘In the red: poverty, debt and mental
health' conference organised by the mental health charity, Mind comes as the
Ministry of Justice have put forward proposals requiring creditors to give
people who owe them money information on how to contact them to discuss
problems, as well as details of independent free advice provided in a letter
before taking legal action.
The exhibition entitled ‘Mandela in London,
1962',' runs until August 2008, displaying 17 striking black and white
photographs, images of this elder statesman's first visit to London in June
1962.
Shocked at the latest security gaffs that has seen two NHS trusts unable to
account for a total of 31,000 patient records, this latest development has left
patients confidence in the health services ability to manage often highly
sensitive patient data in shatters.
Professor Dinesh Bhugra has taken the helm as
the first ethnic minority presidentof the Royal College of Pysciatry, one of one of the oldest and most
powerful institutions within the mental health sector, his comment on the
appalling conditions of secure mental health wards made in Sunday's
Observer newspaper and bear out what
many black patients and their families have been forced to suffer in silence
for decades.
Operation Black Vote have celebrated their 12th
Birthday this month in what signifies a landmark, not just in their
achievements in empowering a generation of people to begin to take their place
in public life, but also in the inspiration of setting up an effective
force for change that has earned the respect of the establishment and minority
communities alike.
The number of homicides by people with mental
health disorders is at an historical all time low, while killings within the UK
have risen over the last 30 years.
Published by Barnardos, a new study shows
that young people are all too often overlooked, despite being the one's who
in many cases are left to taken on responsibilities beyond their
years when a family members falls ill.
Mayor Boris Johnson backs Hyde Park memorial
to mark African Holocaust
The campaign groups ‘Memorial 2007' have been
working towards the establishment of a memorial in London's Hyde Park to
commemorate the millions of enslaved Africans whose lives were lost during the
transatlantic slave trade.
Double discrimination hinders ethnic minority
mental health survivor's re-entry into the work place
With extensive evidence to show that being
employed and staying in work is good for one's mental health the new findings
published by the Sainsburys Centre for Mental Health (SCMH) show that racism
acts as a barrier to full reintegration back into society both inside and outside
of mental health services.
Tribute to Mother of Notting Hill Carnival -
Claudia Jones
Historians and community activists are keen
that the architect of one of the UKs most successful tourist attractions is not
airbrushed from history.They have
welcomed the advent a blue plaque commemorating this work behind this
international event, which was the achievement of Claudia Jones, affectionately
known in many quarters as the Mother of the Notting Hill Carnival.
Titan prison plans slammed as 'gigantic
mistake'
Race
equality groups have spoken out about the adverse impact these new plans will
have on people from African Caribbean communities in particular after the
Justice Secretary Jack Straw, received a letter from the Criminal Justice
Alliance, a coalition of 33 campaigns and prison reform
organizations slamming the scheme as unworkable.
New survey shows wholesale opposition to
innocent mental health patients on criminal DNA database
New findings from BMH UKs online poll has
revealed public opinion is against this practice, which health experts have
warned is criminalising one society's most vulnerable groups. This research has
been welcomed from many quarters, confirming that this contentious practice has
to stop.
September 2008
Tragic death of former service user, Sean
Rigg, sends shockwaves through the community
With the community still reeling from the
news of Riggs sudden death, which occurred just 90 minutes after he was
arrested and taken to Brixton police station, questions have now been raised
about Police officers competency in dealing with vulnerable people, such as
those who have used mental health services.
IPCC report confirms police cells are not
places of safety for mental health patients
A major study by the Independent Police
Complaints Commission (IPCC) on use of section 136 Mental Health Act has
condemned the routine use of police cells as a place of safety.
‘Police custody is an unsuitable environment
for someone with mental illness and may make their condition worse,
particularly if they are not dealt with quickly, appropriately and don't
receive the care they need' Ian Bynoe, IPCC Commissioner with national
responsibility for mental health, said.
London's oldest community mental health service
celebrates 21 years of care
The oldest surviving black led
mental health service in London is celebrating 21years of successfully serving
one of the capitals most marginalized groups, with a one day conference, this
Friday 19th September.
Healthcare Commission survey of mental health
services highlights care gaps in essential services
The Healthcare Commission warned of
continuing gaps in the provision of essential community mental health services
in its annual survey. 45% of service users interviewed for this report said
they still did not have access to a crisis telephone number to call out of
hours.
Britons first black professional footballer
and war hero denied Military Cross
Lieutenant Walter Tull, Britain's first black
professional outfield footballer and also the first black officer in the
British Army, has finally come to light almost a century after his death
ACCI's excellence to be replicated across the
UK
21st celebration of the African
Caribbean Community Initiative (ACCI) mental health service, in Wolverhampton,
has lead to calls from many quarters to see their outstanding work replicated
in every city across the country
October 2008
African Caribbean communities across the UK
celebrate World Mental Health Day
An estimated 450 million people living around
the world suffer from a mental or neurological disorder the WFMH say. The
Department of Health research indicates that one in four people will be effect
by this condition within their lifetime.
For Black Britons,detention rates under the Mental Health Act
are 44% higher than their white counterparts, despite this group having similar
rates of mental illness as any other ethnic group.
Britain's most influential black people showcased
in The Power List 2008
A roll call of Britain's 100 most influential
black people has been published this month detailing the high achievers form a
variety of backgrounds including law, politics, business, the arts, sport,
entertainment and academia in The Power List 2008.
Service user Sean Rigg, buried on eve of WHO
report on Europe's mental health care
WHO's findings in a report entitled, Policies
and practices for mental health in Europe, was published the day after the
funeral of former service user Sean Rigg, 40, who died just 91 minutes after
being detained in police custody in August 2008.
National service on mental health put focus
on health inequalities
Senior politicians and leading health experts
have welcomed Black Mental Health UK's move to host a national service during
the week which also marks a decade since the tragic death of David ‘Rocky'
Bennett.
November 2008
New mental health law raise concern within
Black communities
Human rights groups have expressed concern
over new powers in the 2007 Mental Health Act allow for compulsory community
treatment orders. With the 2007Count Me
In Census showing that black people are 44% more likely to be sectioned than
their white counterparts, despite having similar rates of mental ill health as
any other ethnic group the changes in this new law have raised alarm bells as
health experts warned these new powers will be used disproportionately against
ethnic minorities.
Barack Ombama's election to US president
welcomed as dawn of a new era
The American electorate had changed the course
of their nation's history for good, by and voting in Barack Obama in as the new
president of the United States.
'Mentally ill killed by drugs that are meant
to help them' Independent on Sunday says
The national paper ran a story highlighting
the disturbing reality of some patients who find themselves trapped in a
system where they are ignored when they express concerns about the
treatment they are receiving.
A new exhibition on Slavers of Harley Street
at the Museum of London Docklands opens
A collection of 18th century records as
lifting the lid on London's middle class investments in slavery. The display
offerd a snapshot of some of the individuals and businesses based in Marylebone
who received compensation from the Government when slavery was abolished in the
1830s.
Community leaders horrified at Police
officer's BNP membership
An online blog which leaked details of the
BNP's 12,000 membership sent shockwaves across the country, the
revelation exposed that a police officer was a member of this right wing
extremists group.
100 BML honours Black Mental Health UK with
community services award
100 Black Men of London honoured the work of
Black Mental Health UK by awarding its director Matilda MacAttram, a community
service award, during their annual fundraising gala.
December
Count Me In Census 2008 report confirms
Mental Health Services are damaging black communities
Community leaders and health experts shocked
at the findings in the2008 Count Me In
Census report, which shows absolutely no improvement in the unequal treatment
of black patients using mental health care services.
Locked wardsharm patient's mental health research findings show
Findings from research by eminent city
professor, professor Len Bowers, for less, not more security on psychiatric
wards reinforces the age old advice of community experts working on the
frontline.
Reach Role Model scheme to inspire the next
generation of black leaders launched by Communities secretary Hazel Blears
Business men, journalists, servicemen, a
fire-fighter, lawyers and media experts are amongst the twenty one men
that have been named in the first-ever national role model
programme for black boys and young black men by Communities Secretary Hazel
Blears.
60th Anniversary of the UniversalDeclaration of Human Rights
Activists and race equality experts united in
the view that this Act is more relevant than ever for the protection of
minority groups living in the UK.
Alexandra Burke wins X Factor with the song
Hallelujah
The immediate 576,000 sales in the run up to
Christmas, makes her version the fastest-selling single by a female solo
artist.
Restauranteur, Richard Simpson and his wife Sharon spent
this holiday season cooking Christmas dinner for an ovoer 300 people many of whome have used mental health services. Guests on the day, not only enjoyed a free Caribbean Christmas meal, but also gifts and muisic by a gospel DJ, Groove King.
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