Support for minority ethnic communities
Support for our minority ethnic communities
We know this has been a challenging time for our colleagues in health and social care from different ethnic backgrounds:
If you work for an NHS or ambulance trust:
- Find support options, including 'Looking After You Too: Coaching for NHS staff from ethnic minority backgrounds' at:
NHS England Support for our diverse colleagues
If you work for Berkshire Healthcare:
- Join our Race Equality Staff Network to share your worries and find support and advice
Resources
We've pulled together some information about services that offer specialist services for colleagues from a range of ethnic backgrounds.
If you know of any mental health support sites or helplines for different faiths and ethnic groups you'd like to see added here, contact us at WellbeingMattersComms@berkshire.nhs.uk and let us know.
The Black, African and Asian Therapy Network
- The Black, African and Asian Therapy Network is an independent UK organisation, specialising in therapy informed by an understanding of intersectionality, with people who identify as Black, African, South Asian and Caribbean. They offer blogs, videos, resources and a register of counsellors.
Brown Therapy Network
-
Brown Therapy Network is a network for south Asians all around the world, in the diaspora or in south Asia itself. It is intended for therapists and professionals working within mental health. Offers useful resources and guides about South Asians and mental health that may be of interest.
Islamic mental health and wellbeing service
Access free, confidential, faith-based mental health counselling for Muslims working in the NHS across the UK, by qualified therapists. To find out more, visit:
- Inspirited Minds to choose your counsellor language (English, Urdu, Punjabi, Bengali, Gujarati, Turkish, Spanish, Hausa, Tamil). They work mainly with those of Islamic faith, but can help people from differing backgrounds
- or Lateef project Islamic counselling, who ask what language you'd like support in
JAMI: mental health services for the Jewish community
- JAMI provide professional practical and emotional support for everyone affected by a mental health problem, including friends, relatives and employers
Sikh Helpline
- Sikh helpline is a charity that helps members of the community, regardless of gender, race or religion, deal with issues, especially those linked to cultural and social taboos. It is a free confidential telephone and email counselling service, available 24 hour a day, 7 days a week
BAMEstream Bereavement Support
- BAMEstream offers therapeutic support in over 20 different languages. They will support anyone aged 18 and over who identifies as Black, Asian or any other minority ethnicity who has been affected by the death of a loved one due to COVID-19, and is registered with a GP in England
Helpline for Filipino colleagues
- Hospice UK Just Be helpline
The service is responsive to faith, individuality, culture and community, including providing a Tagalog speaking therapist service to support the large numbers of NHS and social care staff from the Philippines.
Confidential helpline available 8am-8pm seven days a week. Phone: 0300 303 1115
Association of Christians in Counselling
- Find a Christian counsellor. The Association of Christians in Counselling (ACC) is a registered UK charity, representing counsellors from a wide range of Christian traditions. This service is available to anyone.
- NHS Staff Counselling Service. Counselling Service run by ACC, for NHS staff based in England. It offers up to 6 sessions of confidential and free faith-based counselling, by video call or telephone. Available to staff of all beliefs or none, delivered by professional counsellors who are sensitive to religious and non-religious spiritualities.
- The Association of Christians in Counselling will endeavour to match you with a counsellor by ethnicity, if requested.
Therapy for Black Girls
Therapy for Black Girls is an online space dedicated to encouraging the mental wellness of Black women and girls. It offers free blogs and podcast episodes on a range of topics. Please note, it is US based, so unlikely to be suitable for finding a therapist if you live in the UK.
Support for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities
The following organisations offer support and resources to help people from the gypsy, Roma and traveller communities.
- Get Advice - Friends, Families and Travellers (gypsy-traveller.org)
- Information and Support | The Traveller Movement
If you need urgent mental health support and advice:
- Call NHS 111 for physical or mental health emergencies (available 24/7)
- Samaritans: call 116 123 (available 24/7)
- SHOUT85258: text 'SHOUT' to 85258 (available 24/7)
Always dial 999 in an emergency or, to contact the Police in a non-emergency, use 101.