Community Development Workers

The Community Development Workers (CDWs) at NHS Birmimgham East and North have been involved in various initiatives to raise awareness of mental health issues within local black and minority ethnic (BME) communities.

They helped to produce a drama programme, which captures BME children and young people’s views around mental health and rolled out a mental health training programme aimed at BME carers.

This is now being extended to carers from within the Somali and Irish communities.

The Communications and Involvement team has also supported a community-led magazine called Barbershop. Aimed at BME communities, the quarterly magazine invites people to write about their experiences surrounding mental health. Once printed, the magazine is made available to people through their local barbershop.

The CDW team, in partnership with other agencies, has also helped to organise a Mosque Mental Health roadshow to raise awareness of mental health in faith based communities. Already the roadshow has visited four mosques and over 450 people have accessed the information stand.

Following the success of this, it is due to be rolled out to other faith groups over the coming year.