Lankelly Chase commissions new national centre of excellence
First Stop Design • July 25, 2017
source: Lankelly Chase Foundation
published: 5 July 2017
Lankelly Chase Foundation has commissioned Queen Mary University of London, the University of Manchester and Words of Colour Productions to establish an independent centre of excellence on ethnic inequalities, severe mental illness and multiple disadvantage.
With a strategic award of £1,245,000, the Synergi Collaborative Centre will deliver a five-year national programme, focused on working towards the transformation of health services for ethnic minority people with severe mental illness.
Over the five years the centre will:
- Collate, interpret and communicate data and knowledge on ethnic inequalities in mental health and related systems, and how this relates to severe and multiple disadvantage.
- Bring together the full range of stakeholders through models of co-production, and co-curation of knowledge, to develop and implement solutions.
- Place lived experience narratives centre stage.
- Use creative, digital and evidence-based platforms to share these narratives.
- Become a focal point for action, leading to systems change regarding ethnic inequalities in mental health services.
- Identify opportunities to reduce and prevent ethnic inequalities to improve the health of individuals and populations.
Cathy Stancer, Director, Equalities and Rights, Lankelly Chase, said: “ Lankelly Chase’s area of concern is why people dealing with the most severe problems get the least effective support, often resulting in catastrophic outcomes. Through the many projects we have supported, we know that ethnic inequality in mental health remains an intractable issue needing new energy, creativity and collaboration. The creation of the Synergi Collaborative Centre follows several years of engagement with ethnic minority-led organisations who agreed that the way evidence, practice and communities connect is a crucial step towards changing systems. ”
This funding will be instrumental in supporting our ongoing work with African and Caribbean men and women in Birmingham and Solihull who have lived experience of mental health.
A new, round-the-clock mental health text service is now available to people living in Birmingham and Solihull, offering free and confidential support at the touch of a button.
The Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health and Wellbeing Hubs (BSMHWH) is a service delivered to local people in partnership by Birmingham Mind and Creative Support.
Millions of patients experiencing mental health crisis can now benefit from support through NHS 111. NHS in England is one of the first countries in the world to offer this access.
