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Many feel the needs of the black and minority ethnic communities have been overlooked by mental health services. Research figures show that young black and south Asian men aged 18 – 35 are over represented in the mental health system.

Changing perceptions

A new Birmingham community magazine called Barbershop, funded by the NHS Primary Care Trust Birmingham and Midland Heart Association, hopes to change those perceptions and promote a more positive image of the mental health services especially within hard to reach communities.

The free magazine will be available in barbershops across Birmingham to let young black and Asian men know how they can get help.

BME men are 15 times more at risk

Why young black and Asian men?

There are a number of reasons why black and Asian men are less likely to seek help, are 75% at higher risk of committing suicide and are 15 times more likely to be sectioned and sent to a secure mental health hospital.

These reasons may include cultural beliefs and stigmas, a lack of early support and prevention work and services that don’t reflect the sensitive cultural needs of people from ethnic minority backgrounds.

The aim of Barbershop is to break down the barriers and take away some of the negative stigma around mental health.

Angela Simmonds

Getting the message across

I caught up with the South Birmingham Community Development Team who are spear heading the Barbershop project; to find out how they feel the initiative will help to the change lives of young BME men in Birmingham.

Angela Simmonds is a Community Development Worker for South Birmingham Primary Care Trust and the project co-ordinator for Barbershop. Angela hopes the project will get the message across that there is help available out there.

“Barbershop is a community mental health magazine targeting BME men who perhaps wouldn’t go to their GP or seek professional medical advice if they had a problem.

“A barbershop for black and Asian men is almost like a country club where they go to socialise and chill out while sitting for hours waiting to have their hair cut. The magazine contains issues and stories that will hopefully spark debate and conversation amongst the men."

Winson Green Prison

Crisis point

Senior Community Development Worker Tara Moran adds: “Young BME men are more likely to enter the system at crisis point – they are then detained for longer and put on higher medication.

"They've also often been involved in substance misuse and gang culture.”

Dispelling the myths

Traditionally within the African Caribbean community there is a great stigma attached to mental illness. There’s a stereotype that symptoms of mental illness are a sign of madness. Because of this ignorance people are not accessing services until they reach crisis point. 

Patrick Kwesiga

Community Development Worker Patrick Kwesiga feels these cultural beliefs are a major factor as to why mental health is so mis-understood in the BME community.

“People will persevere on their own with the illness until it gets to a crisis point. Some families will even disown or disassociate themselves from their own family members who are suffering from poor mental health.

“People therefore fear to come out and engage with services – they don’t take up the opportunity to get counselling because they don’t want to be associated with the stigma of being called mad.”

“Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of”

“Anyone can fall ill with a mental health problem, but until the BME communities understand this, they will always be getting help last instead of being the first to get help.”

BME men in crisis

Angela adds: “As community development workers we are here to try and educate the community in mental health awareness - promoting a more positive message to show that mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of."

Sharing experiences

The inspiration behind Barbershop originated in Preston where the first magazine was launched and published in July 2008. It covers a range of issues such as schizophrenia, anxiety and personality disorders, together with how people can access help and support.

Local people are also encouraged to get involved with the production of the magazine not only to gain valuable skills but to also access services.

Getting a shape up

“Barbershop is a fruit basket of opportunities. Somebody with a mental health problem who has never sought help before will either see an article in the magazine or be inspired to get involved”, Angela explains.

“We’re encouraging people, in particular BME men to help produce the magazine - to write articles about their own experiences or about things happening in their own community. The men will be given the opportunity to attend training courses in photography, journalism and writing, which also gives them the option to gain new skills for future employment.”

No jargon

Patrick adds: “Another approach of the magazine is to present real issues in a way that the reader will be able to connect and relate to - for example jargon that is used in the Primary Care Trust ( PCT ) will be written as lighthearted articles.

"We are hoping it will bring communities together and get people talking about mental health.”

Barbershop

Life at the barbershop

Barbershops are seen as being a central part of the community - a place where men gather to catch up with friends, chat and put the world to rights.

Life at the barbers

Seven barber shops in Birmingham have already signed up to get involved with the scheme: Metrics on Dudley Road, Snoop Better Days Barbers Grove Lane Handsworth, Jacksons Dudley Rd, Better Cuts Dudley Road, Wajids Barbers, and Habz Barbers.

The magazines will also be distributed in the prisons across the West Midlands including Winson Green and Shrewsbury HMP.

Get involved with Barbershop

The magazine is looking for local people within the community to get involved with future editions of the magazine, either to share their own personal stories or to produce articles about the local community - no experience is necessary.

Barbershop Birmingham issue one

For information on how you can get involved contact the South Birmingham Community Development Team on 0121 449 4760.

Barbershop online

The first issue of Barbershop Birmingham is available to read online on the Colour Mind website, visit the website below to take a look.

Talking Black Mental Health on BBC WM

Listen to BBC WM presenter Joe Aldred talk to Camille Ade-John, Head of COPE Black Mental Health about the stigma of mental health in the African Caribbean community and Waheem Saleem from Birmingham East and North PCT about the new Barbershop magazine initiative.

Tune into the BBC WM Joe Aldred show every Saturday night 8pm - 10pm on 95.6FM, DAB radio or online for more news, views and topical issues for the West Midlands' African Caribbean communities.

(Images used in this article are courtesy of Darren Leopold Williams)