Welcome to Community Trauma Conference UK

Introduction to the co-host, Leoni Cachia

In mental health systems there is a legacy of silo working that hasn’t served Black men's health and wellbeing. Which is why it’s essential to co-produce and co-curate alternative spaces, structures, languages and approaches that inspire change agency, institutional courage, impactful collaborations and meaningful change amid continued divergence.

We are now operating in a space - and world - that is being forced to face the reality of structural, interpersonal and institutional racism in every segment of society, including mental health. Yet the over-representation of Black men with severe mental illness in psychiatric institutions, and the coercive, harsh (rather than therapeutic) forms of treatment they are exposed to is a picture that hasn’t truly shifted in 50 years.

Against this multi-layered backdrop the Synergi-Leeds Partnership seeks to address racial injustice in mental health as part of the city’s priority to reduce ‘the over representation of people from BME communities admitted in crisis’. The journey to this commitment contains challenges and deep learning, including piercing institutional comfort zones around engaging with creative methodologies, the impact of structural racism and the need for racial justice; all underpinned by the need to centre the narratives of Black and minoritised communities with lived experience of severe mental illness. Much of this work has been developed amid the pandemic’s disproportionate impact on Black and minoritised people, George Floyd’s murder, Grenfell, the Windrush Scandal and the continued deaths of Black men in custody and mental health institutions.

In their presentation, supported by filmed poetry, visuals and audio testimonies, Sharon Prince and Joy Francis will describe an innovative and ambitious citywide approach to tackling ethnic inequalities in mental health. Their presentation will highlight:

• The reality of epistemic injustice, power and identity in mental health
• A whole-systems approach to embracing complexity and fostering racial justice
• Cultivating ‘Creative Spaces’ ecosystems to tackle historical divergence and localised histories of racial trauma
• Examples of innovation and creative engagement co-produced by Black people with lived experience
• Disruption of the commissioning process
• The role of research, evidence base and academic allyship

Hear why the Synergi-Leeds approach is now an integral part of the delivery of preventative programmes for better mental health in the city, which is beginning to make a difference to the lives of Black and minoritised people. And why there is still a significant way to go.

There is a lot of attention given to Black men’s route into mental health services and the continued failure by mental health services to provide person-centred mental health care. My presentation will focus on a different aspect of mental health, one that centres on what happens after being diagnosed with psychosis and experiencing trauma and oppression in inpatient services. In my research findings the men describe this as ‘Starting over’. The presentation will focus on how they made sense of leaving the coercion and control of inpatient services to finally go ‘home’. Shedding light on transition to ‘life’ in the community when ‘yuh head tek yuh’, focusing on their challenges and care needs at a crucial time in their recovery.

Art interventions, especially music, enhance the quality of life for cancer patients. Yet, studies exploring music used by Black men with prostate cancer are scarce. This qualitative study investigated how eleven Black men used recorded music to cope with their treatment impact. Four core themes emerged: "My journey" highlighted support and meaning during treatment, "The healing power of music" provided solace and comfort, "Spiritual anointment" brought spiritual connection, and "It's a cultural thing" fostered community and support. The research advocates integrating music as an adjunct service in care for Black men with prostate cancer. Tailoring music interventions to cultural backgrounds creates a more supportive environment. Acknowledging music's therapeutic benefits promotes a holistic approach to care for Black men facing prostate cancer in the UK, where they are disproportionately affected

The current research aimed to listen to the experiences of eight young Black men in London between the ages of 19-32, examining their experiences of trauma relating to gang-affiliated violence and how they make sense of their experiences. The themes describe the complex interlink of human experience marked by trauma, socially deprived environments, systemic abuses, discrimination, healing, and coping. The persistent nature of violence in their communities created a sense of normalisation, and behaviours were adopted to navigate these threats. Attempts were then made to cope with the ongoing threats of violence. This research produced new knowledge about how young Black men exposed to gang-affiliated violence make sense of their experiences, and the trauma responses they portray which challenge traditional perceptions of trauma and PTSD. This research has the potential to influence developments in statutory services, as well as raising awareness and inspiring action.

The development of a theory that explores Black British men’s perceptions of therapy and analyses the implications of these perceptions of therapy for psychotherapeutic, theory, policy, training, and practice. This qualitative study interviews 10 Black British men and three focus groups and utilises a Constructivist Grounded Theory approach to construct a theory on Black men’s perceptions of therapy. An Afrocentric framework was adopted which centred on peoples of Africa and the African diaspora within their own historical, cultural, and sociological contexts, and based on concepts of agency, centeredness, location, and orientation. This research presents the opportunity for psychotherapeutic services to gain insight into some of the subjective experiences of the Black community through the voices of Black men when addressing the needs of the Black community overall. Therefore, this study offers insight into psychotherapeutic policy, theory, and practice by incorporating Afrocentric ideologies to adequately meet the psychological needs of Black men surrounding therapy.

Panel Members

Black Men on the Couch is a unique program that aids in self-reflection, discovery and personal growth for Black and minority men. Rotimi Akinsete devised the concept over 10 years ago. In the program, public events are organised that feature two Black men – one who is a qualified psychotherapist, the other a high-profile Black man – who engage in conversation during a public ‘counselling’ session/interview. His interviews have included the likes of Stan Collymore, Trevor Phillips, Ashley Walters, David Lammy, Kwame Kwei Armah, Gary Younge and many others. Conference attendees will have an opportunity to learn about the life, challenges, aspirations and first-hand accounts Dr Dwight Turner. We will hear about his learning and expertise surrounding the effects of trauma on the Black, male psyche and his insights on what can be gained by talking to a professionally-trained person. We will also discuss themes raised in his most recent publications.

Panel Members