A fresh approach to African and African Caribbean mental health
Like all systemic solutions, OMA has been here many times before, in different forms, sparked by different facets of health need and initiated by successive generations of progressive African and Caribbean Heritage leaders who sacrificed their quality of life in order to make a difference in their community.
This latest chapter in the fight for race equality and transparency in the mental health sector begun innocently at a seemingly insignificant community event that had been hurriedly organised to mark mental health week 2019 in Hackney.
The idea for the event was initiated by Courtney Brown CEO of Father-2-Father and Kristine Wellington manager at Hackney CVS. It was at one of their early planning meetings that Courtney suggested Viv Ahmun was approached to join the group because of his work around Asset Based Community Development and his extensive background/experience in social policy and strategic development more generally. Courtney was also aware of Ahmun’s work with the Institute of Black Psychology in America, his close relationship with giants of Black Psychology like Dr Na Im Akbar and his background in developing and delivering mental health services including the running of CAMHS services in South London.
OUR KEY PILLARS
That first event gave life and purpose to all of those thoughts and frustrations. So much so that the energy it created back in May 2019 marked the beginning of a process that seeded what we now know as the Open Minds Alliance (OMA). That early event defined OMA’s main areas of activity:
– We combat data poverty; we want our community to have access to evidence and solutions that empower our community to do for self.
– We advocate on behalf of community based and community driven services that too often struggle to be taken seriously by clinical practitioners, and other statutory and large voluntary sector services.
– We push for greater systemic leadership across sectors in order to more effectively meet community need. We work pro-actively with communities and allies to better meet their expressed needs through Asset Based Development and community mobilisation.
All of the founders believed then and now that the time has come for an end to the industrialised levels of consultation done to Black communities.
The three founders had very separate yet clear ideas about that small yet significant event from the outset. Courtney wanted greater emphasis on support for men and their role in the family, and the importance of developing processes that increased the resilience of African and Caribbean Heritage families as they struggle to withstand the ravages of health inequality and barriers to the economic leavers needed for self-actualisation. Kristine wanted more emphasis on the health and wellbeing of the Black child both in the home and in the education system, whilst Ahmun wanted to focus on community mobilisation.
All of the founders believed then and now that the time has come for an end to the industrialised levels of consultation done to Black communities, this intellectual colonialism (cultural norms, concepts and ideas stripped out of communities for financial gain, without real permission and with no benefit to the contributors). Rather than this constant gaslighting that explicitly and implicitly places the problem with the victims and not the state perpetrators must become the focus of future ethical studies that result in action rather than empty recommendations that do little more than further the careers of their authors (we accept the fact that the majority are well meaning however, the benefits remain massively skewed in favour of those who strip the intellectual assets).
The Five Ways to Wellbeing is a set of evidence-based public mental health messages aimed at improving general mental health and wellbeing.
New applications, new ways of thinking
HOW OUR DIGITAL AFRICAN VILLAGE WORKS
The platform is intended to hold a wealth of information in a myriad of forms all geared toward the health and wellbeing of the African Caribbean Heritage community. In keeping with OMA’s strategic focus, the platform focuses on prevention and early intervention, so its operating approach is based on the 5 ways model to wellbeing as detailed below:
CONNECT...
Meaningfully with people around you. With family, friends, colleagues, neighbours and the people who provide the essential services that keep you well. At home, work, school or in your local community (Mosque, Church, gym, online chat groups, online gaming spaces etc.). Think of these as the cornerstones of your life and invest time in developing them. Building these connections will support and enrich you every day.
“Gaming online with my mates kept my head straight when I lost my mum, it was my therapy, not just gaming”
19 year old out of work and not in education
BE ACTIVE...
Go for a walk or run. Step outside. Cycle. Play a game. Garden. Dance. Exercising makes you feel good. Most importantly, discover a physical activity you enjoy and one that suits your level of mobility and fitness.
“As long as I can get to the gym and catch up with my mates, my head is good, we get some jokes and work out the frustration, even got my mum doing a bit of exercising in the house”
28 year old professional
TAKE NOTICE...
Be curious. Catch sight of the beautiful. Remark on the unusual. Notice the changing seasons. Savour the moment, whether you are walking to work, eating lunch or talking to friends. Be aware of the world around you and what you are feeling. Reflecting on your experiences will help you appreciate what matters to you.
“After talking to my friend, I made my shower the most important thing in my day, I know it seems silly, but making that daily shower the highlight of the day saved my life, it really is the simple things that matter”
38 year old male carer
KEEP LEARNING...
Life-long learning is the key to continued relevance in a world that is constantly changing. It also creates opportunities to make new friends, develop new strengths and open up new income streams.
“I got a government loan to do a full time online degree in therapy, it has been a blessing!”
34 year old
GIVE...
Do something nice for a friend, or a stranger. Thank someone. Smile. Volunteer your time. Join a community group. Look out, as well as in. Seeing yourself, and your happiness, linking to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding and creates connections with the people around you.
“I help out at the local Mosque and at the local food bank whenever I can, it means that I don’t feel so lonely and I have friends again”
66 year old female, retired
OUR PARTNERS & SUPPORTERS
