‘Mental health in the community’ is a series of six podcasts brought to you by the Mental Health Foundation and the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust.

What is this series about?

From 2016 to 2019 the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust ran the Mental Health Fellowships programme, funding individuals to travel abroad to learn more about how community-based solutions are being created to respond to some of today’s most pressing mental health challenges.

The Mental Health Foundation was the expert partner in this programme, helping to shape its aims, select the successful candidates and provide mentoring to the successful Fellows. In total, 59 Churchill Fellows were chosen to investigate best practice in 18 countries and bring back new evidence and ideas to create positive change in their profession, practice and communities in the UK.

This series of podcasts distils the key findings from this rich body of learning, and makes recommendations for policy and practice in the UK. Each episode focuses on an aspect of the Mental Health Fellowships’ overarching theme ‘community-based solutions’. There are also corresponding briefings for each of the categories below, available at www.mentalhealth.org.uk or www.wcmt.org.uk.

Episode 1: Equality and Diversity

Who’s on the podcast today?

Trevor Barnes: Host, freelance journalist and BBC radio presenter.

Erica Mapule Mcinnis: a chartered clinical psychologist, travelled to the USA (2016) to investigate African-centered psychological services for wellbeing.

Jacqui Jobson: former Director of Advocacy at Connected Voice and freelance consultant, travelled to Australia and Canada (2017) to explore advocacy approaches addressing mental health among LGBT+ communities.

What is the episode about?

This episode on Equality and Diversity features Erica and Jacqui’s findings from Australia, Canada and the USA demonstrating how approaches abroad are being used to help reduce mental health inequalities and protect the rights of vulnerable groups.

We hear about "Ascensions Psychological and Community Services" (which Erica visited in Washington DC) - a mental health service infused with black heritage. Operating from an ordinary house on an ordinary street in a predominantly black neighbourhood, it projects a pride in its African heritage that is immediately obvious to anyone entering the building.

We also hear about programmes Jacqui visited in Sydney and Toronto that ensure that everyone in the organisation, from receptionists to therapists and counsellors, were either themselves from the LGBT+ community or had been professionally trained to understand and affirm the community's cultural sensitivities and world view.

Need support?

 If you need someone to talk to then Samaritans are available on 116 123 (UK) for free, 24/7. They are there to talk to, listen and they won't judge or tell you what to do.

 C.A.L.M.: National helpline for men to talk about any troubles they are feeling. Call 0800 58 58 58 (UK). They are available 5pm-midnight 365 days a year.

 For support in a crisis, Text Shout to 85258. If you’re experiencing a personal crisis, are unable to cope and need support. Shout can help with urgent issues such as: Suicidal thoughts, abuse or assault, self-harm, bullying, relationship challenges.