The Up My Street programme

Preventing problems among young African Caribbean men

Funded by Comic Relief, Mind’s Up My Street programme was focused on prevention: engaging with young African Caribbean men before they experienced mental health problems.

Up My Street’s main aim was to develop and pilot approaches that could reduce the number of young African Caribbean men in inpatient mental health services. Currently, young African Caribbean men are significantly over-represented in the compulsory mental health system.

We worked with organisations that support young African Caribbean men, to help build people’s resilience and address the factors that could put people at risk of mental health problems. We also built links to enable the wider community to support the mental health needs of young people more effectively.

Some participants said they felt more connected socially and less isolated after taking part in Up My Street, as well as feeling a greater sense of wellbeing.