Lambeth leads the way in the journey towards anti racism in mental health services in England
We’re very proud of Lambeth’s Dr Jacqui Dyer MBE and Black Thrive Lambeth’s role in developing the first anti racism framework for mental health trusts and service providers in the country. The Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework (or PCREF) was published by NHS England on 30 October, and will support mental health services to embed anti-racism within their organisations.
Hard and difficult facts on Black mental health
Embedding the community voice
Jacqui said, “The PCREF was coproduced with people with lived experience of mental distress, mental health challenges and racism and is a mechanism for empowerment for those voices to transform and innovate mental health services, so that what is delivered responds to their/our needs”.
I was Co-Chair of the Lambeth Black Health and Wellbeing Commission, which reported in 2014 and enabled me to learn about what we need to do better to build trust with communities. The PCREF is the result of that coproduction experience and my own lived experience, amongst other spurs.”
Lambeth Together partner organisation, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, is one of four mental health trusts across the country to work with NHS England to pilot the PCREF. All four have worked with minority-led voluntary, community, social enterprise organisations, patients, and carers to embed the community voice in their approach.
Tackling inequalities: a Lambeth Together goal
Sabrina Phillips, Director of Lambeth Living Well Network Alliance, a ground-breaking partnership that has transforming the experience of Black and Black British mental health service users as one of its key priorities, said,
“We like to think we are at the forefront of practice in this area, but we know there is a way to go and this is a very welcome and structured way to support us in continuing on our journey to embed anti-racism in all our work.”
Dr Di Aitken, Joint Chair of Lambeth Together and Chair of its Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Group, said,
“This anti racism framework supports our ambition to tackle deep-seated inequalities in the health and wellbeing of Black people in Lambeth, and the way people from Black and Black British people access, experience and benefit from mental health services in particular. PCREF brings a whole new dimension of coproduction, where individuals and communities are at the heart of design and implementation of the services they need.”
Find out more about NHS England’s Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework