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Useful contacts - racism and mental health

If racism is affecting your mental health, this page has details of organisations who may be able to help. It covers:

Mental health support

These organisations provide mental health support, with some offering tailored services to specific communities.

Mind's helplines and online community

  • Mind's helplines provide information and support by phone and email.
  • Side by Side is our supportive online community for anyone experiencing a mental health problem

Support from local Minds

Our network of local Minds provide support to their communities, with some offering tailored services, such as:

Some local Minds are also delivering our Young Black Men programme:

Find your local Mind

Peer support directory

Our peer support directory lists peer support services across England and Wales, including some services tailored to specific communities.

See our information pages on peer support to find out more about peer support, including what types there are, how it can help and how to access it.

Other mental health support organisations

Aashna

aashna.uk
Provides a list of therapists working to recognise the ways in which culture, faith, religion, colour, social background, sexuality, gender and neurodiversity affect people's experiences.

BAATN (The Black, African and Asian Therapy Network)

baatn.org.uk
Provides a list of therapists from Black, African and Asian backgrounds, and signposts to local mental health and advocacy services.

BAME Helpline Wales

0300 222 5720
07537 432 416 (text service)
bame.wales
Multi-lingual helpline offering signposting for people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities to support with health, work, welfare entitlements, education, housing and personal safety.

BAMEStream Bereavement Support

0207 263 6947
bamestream.org.uk/bereavement-support
Offers free bereavement support (three sessions) for 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. Support is delivered by Nafsiyat Intercultural Therapy. It is available in multiple languages and you can self-refer to the service.

Bayo

bayo.ubele.org
Bayo is a space to find collectives, organisations and services from across the UK that offer mental health and wellbeing support to the Black community.

BLAM (Black Learning Achievement and Mental Health)

blamuk.org
Offers mental health support to people from Black British communities, including racial wellness workshops. Works to embed Black British cultural heritage and African and Caribbean histories into teaching.

Boloh helpline

0800 151 2605
helpline.barnardos.org.uk
A helpline and webchat for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic children, young people, parents or carers affected by the pandemic. Offers emotional support and practical advice.

Diverse Cymru

diversecymru.org.uk
Welsh charity committed to supporting people facing inequality and discrimination. Offers mental health services to people from Black and minority ethnic backgrounds through its mental health projects.

Ethnic Minorities & Youth Support Team Wales (EYST)

eyst.org.uk
Provides services in Wales for young people aged 11–25 from ethnic minority backgrounds and their families, including support for health and wellbeing.

Hub of Hope

hubofhope.co.uk

UK-wide mental health service database. Lets you search for local, national, peer, community, charity, private and NHS mental health support. You can filter results to find specific kinds of support.

Inside Out Wellbeing

insideoutwellbeing.org
Provides culturally-informed wellbeing talks and workshops, including sessions on racial wellness.

Inspirited Minds

inspiritedminds.org.uk
Offers private counselling services for Muslim communities.

Jami

jamiuk.org
020 8458 2223
Provides mental health support for the Jewish community through online services, community hubs, recovery support plans and education.

Muslim Community Helpline

020 8908 6715 or 020 8904 8193
muslimcommunityhelpline.org.uk
Provides listening and emotional support for members of the Muslim community.

Muslim Youth Helpline

0808 808 2008
myh.org.uk
Provides faith and culturally sensitive support to young Muslims by phone, live chat, WhatsApp and email.

Rethink Mental Illness

0808 801 0525
rethink.org
Provides support and information for anyone affected by mental health problems, including local support groups.

Southeast and East Asian Centre (SEEAC)

seeac.org.uk
Offers mental health support to people of Southeast and East Asian heritage in the UK, and lists other support options in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Scotland.

Spark and Co.

sparkandco.co.uk
Directory of support services for people of colour, including mental health services.

Taraki

taraki.co.uk
Creates spaces for mental health education and awareness for Punjabi communities.

Support with experiences of discrimination and hate crimes

These organisations offer advice on your rights and guidance on what to do if you've experienced discrimination or a hate crime.

Citizens Advice

0800 144 8848 (England Adviceline)
0800 702 2020 (Wales Adviceline)
18001 0800 144 8884 (textphone)
citizensadvice.org.uk
Free, confidential information and advice on your rights, including money, housing, experiences of discrimination and other problems.

Community Security Trust (CST)

0800 032 3263 (24-hour emergency number)
0208 457 9999 (general enquiries)
cst.org.uk
Protects British Jews from antisemitism and related threats, including through an emergency number and an online form for reporting incidents.

Equality Advisory Support Service (EASS)

0808 800 0082 (helpline)
18001 0808 800 0084 (textphone)
equalityadvisoryservice.com
Advice on issues relating to equality and human rights, including guidance for disabled people.

Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)

equalityhumanrights.com
Promotes and monitors human rights and equality.

True Vision

report-it.org.uk
Provides information about hate crimes and an online form for reporting them.

Victim Support

0808 168 9111
victimsupport.org.uk
Provides emotional and practical support for people affected by crime and traumatic events.

Campaigning organisations

These organisations campaign against racism and some offer ways to get involved and have your say. You could also campaign with Mind for a fairer system.

Black Lives Matter UK

ukblm.org
Anti-racist organisation fighting to end structural racism.

Black Thrive

blackthrive.org
Works to address and challenge the structural barriers that prevent Black people from thriving.

Race on the Agenda (ROTA)

rota.org.uk
Works with communities impacted by systemic racism, to create policies and practice that tackle inequality.

Race Equality Foundation

raceequalityfoundation.org.uk
Explores evidence of discrimination and disadvantage. Promotes equality in public services, including health, housing and social care.

Runnymede Trust

runnymedetrust.org
Challenges race inequality in Britain through research, network building, leading debate, and policy engagement.

Show Racism the Red Card

theredcard.org
Anti-racism education charity, delivering educational workshops to young people and adults.

Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation

stephenlawrenceday.org/stephen-lawrence-day-foundation
Works to create a more equal and inclusive society, and to create education and career opportunities for young people.

Stop Hate UK

stophateuk.org
Offers independent reporting and support for victims and witnesses of hate crimes. Visit their website to see if your area is covered, and find links to other reporting options.

The UBELE Initiative

ubele.org
African diaspora-led organisation bringing together a culturally diverse and intergenerational group of community activists and change-makers.

About this information

Published: July 2021
Review planned: December 2021

We worked with 20 people with personal experience of racism to develop this content. We are deeply grateful for all their time, openness and support. All quotes are shared with permission from our focus group participants, reviewers and bloggers.

References and bibliography available on request.

If you want to reproduce this content, see our permissions and licensing page.

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