Pathways to Change – final update

At the end of May, Salem and Immy held a focus group for South-Asian residents based around Guildford. This was held at The Coalition’s and SMEF’s headquarters in Astolat.

Alex conducted interviews online. Participants highlighted the importance of seeing a professional from a similar background:

“I’m blessed with a good one [psychiatrist]. She’s Asian too but not from my country. But then she’s Asian, so I hope she knows what I’ve been going through.” – Person with lived experience of mental ill-health

As well as professionals being aware of, and adaptable to, a patient’s culture and religion: “… I’m from a Hindu background … we don’t do few things after 6pm or on specific days like Tuesdays and Fridays. She [the psychologist] doesn’t know that. She asked me, ‘Why are you not doing it [the exercises] on Tuesday or Friday?’ I said, ‘It’s religious.’ So I have to explain each and everything, you know? … We [Hindus] don’t do cleaning after 6pm in the evening. So whatever we do, we do it earlier. … So I have to rush before 6pm which creates pressure on me.’ – Person with lived experience of mental ill-health

In June, Salem led a focus group with Muslim families based in Redhill. This focus group was kindly facilitated by Dr Uzma. Participants shared with us the differences in gender and generational approaches to and understanding of mental ill-health, the importance of identifying early signs of domestic abuse and mental ill-health, and the impact of silence and shame as a barrier to access in some South-Asian communities.

Salem and Kirsty are surveying a group of Sikhs based in Surrey Heath about their mental wellbeing. According to the Sikhs in Census 2021 report, there are over 1000 Sikh residents in Surrey Heath (p. 5). Currently, Camberly Sikh Association (CSA) are fundraising to build a Gurdwara in Surrey. For more details about this, please visit: Home – gurdwaraforsurrey.org.uk

The following organisations offer tailored mental health and wellbeing support for Sikhs in the UK:
• Sikhs and Mental Health – Research Publications (sikhyourmind.com)
• Taraki – Mental Health in Punjabi Communities
• Home – Sikh Mental Health & Wellbeing (sikhmentalhealthwellbeing.org)

Currently, the researchers are analysing the datasets and writing the report. The final report should be available from both, The Coalitions and SMEF’s websites from August 2023 (TBC).

Pathways to Change builds upon a previous research report – conducted by Surrey Minority Ethnic Forum (SMEF) and Surrey Coalition of Disabled People (The Coalition) in 2020 – which studied the mental health impact of Covid-19 on ethnic minorities. The term ‘BAME’ (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) was used throughout the report. Since the completion of this work the UK Government’s Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities reviewed the causes for race inequality in the UK, finding that terms such as BAME were unhelpful and should cease to be used. Please find the report below on the impact of Covid-19 on ethnic minorities mental wellbeing.

Salem is now working with Masjid Ul Elmann (Redhill’s Islamic Centre) on a project about Muslim men’s mental wellbeing. If you are a man aged 18 or over, based in Redhill or the surrounding areas, and attend Masjid Ul Elmann. Please e-mail Salem on salems@smef.org.uk about getting involved.