Following our successful trialing of racial trauma support group sessions this year, it fills me with immense pleasure to announce IN.Society has received funding from the National Lottery Community Fund to launch an essential initiative, our ‘Racial Identity & Mental Wellbeing Hub’, designed to support the mental health of the Black & Asian communities in the West Midlands through a range of activities and online resources.
Why this project, why focus on racial trauma?
It is evidenced that Black & Asian ethnic communities have received poorer mental health outcomes and poorer experiences when accessing mental health services. It’s also no secret that racialised communities are at higher risk of severe mental distress, greater exposure to stress such as experiences of prejudice, micro-aggressions and racial discrimination. It is also evidenced over 120,000 workers leave their job due to racism, with a separate study showing 88% of black workers stating they have experienced racial discrimination at work.
The project centers around hosting a series of free-to-access support group events throughout the upcoming year for Black & Asian communities to share experiences, gain peer-to-peer advice on shared experiences, understanding of commonly felt experiences of prejudice and discrimination in a safe, culturally sensitive space. These events are tailored especially for individuals within the local community who have faced racial prejudice and discrimination. The aim is to create a space where participants can connect, share, and derive value from mutual advice and lived experiences. These sessions are not just peer-led but also steered by knowledgeable representatives from BAATN & Birmingham Mind. In tandem with these sessions, IN.Society is launching a comprehensive data collection drive to record and interpret these vital insights, particularly on racial prejudicial and discriminatory experiences in the workplace.
What is our aim for the project?
To deeply comprehend the unique experiences and factors influencing racialised communities in the West Midlands, especially when it comes to accessing and engaging with mental health services and the impact that experiencing racism has on their mental health journey, particularly in the workplace.
To raise awareness about the causes and symptoms associated with racial trauma, ensuring that those affected are empowered with knowledge of where and how to seek support.
The outcomes we hope for:
To equip mental health service providers and other pertinent organisations with actionable insights, suggestions, and guidance to mitigate harmful behaviors, structural or systemic cultures and actions. Our goal is to pave the way for improved mental health outcomes and experiences for racialised communities in the West Midlands.
The development of a comprehensive ‘Wellbeing Hub’. This hub will house educational resources designed to support and empower racialised communities, offering strategies to enhance their mental well-being and tools to combat racial discrimination.
Gauge the tangible impact of our early intervention activities such as our support group events, and rigorously evaluate their effectiveness to constantly evolve our approach.
IN.Society is committed to amplifying the voices of those who often go unheard or ignored and provide the necessary resources to foster a community that thrives, despite adversity.
Want to support this project?
We invite you to join us on this journey and support this transformative initiative. We are looking to work with local mental health providers, community groups and wellness practitioners, that provide culturally sensitive mental wellness support to put on a series of tailored workshops and willing to assist with reach within the community with the conduction of research. Please email us at info@in-society.org.
We would also welcome volunteers that can assist with social media, content and poster creation and open to other forms of support. Please email us at info@in-society.org.
Lastly, as an individual or minority-owned organisation, you can register to become a member of IN.Society if you wish to join us on our mission to provide education, gain support and advocate for changes throughout our journey.