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:
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:
- Bristol Mind's Women Without Borders group
- Bromley, Lewisham and Greenwich Mind's Culturally Diverse Communities project
- IRIE Mind at City, Hackney and Waltham Forest Mind
- Lambeth and Southwark Mind's Kindred Minds group
- Mind in Camden's Cultural Advocacy Project
- Mind in Harrow's culturally specific services
- Thurrock and Brentwood Mind's Multi-Ethnic Counselling Service
Some local Minds are also delivering our Young Black Men programme:
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.uk
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.
Jami
020 8458 2223
jamiuk.org
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.
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 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.
