Managing Better Mental Health for BME Elders Project

This Project is using community-based relationships to develop a specific community investment model that engages and trains BME elders and workers in mental health care.  The focus of the project is on depression, dementia and Alzheimers.

PRIAE’s credible relationships with BME elders and age organisations will be harnessed to strengthen as well as help exchange information, practice and developments.

Using methods of community engagement - that trains BME elders and workers to address specific aspects of mental health - will build up a good climate in mental health work as well as create investment in the abilities and capacities of people and organisations in the community.

It is a three year project (2006 – 2009), which is being funded by the Department of Health.

Aims
The aims of the Better Mental Health for BME Elders Project are:

• collate and co-ordinate good examples of practice, including mental health support developed with BME age sector – particularly specific aspects of mental health issues and solutions. 
  
• train BME elders and workers to deliver appropriate support which connects with:
  • accessible information
  • access to services
  • signposting and referrals
  • effective communication
  • assessment to deliver mental health care to BME elders using sound research evidence and developed practice in the context of the BME elder experience, cultural responsiveness and mental health approaches
    
• develop the capacity and confidence of the BME mental health and social care community, which uses well-developed and recognised models of community engagement.

Benefits
The key benefits of this Project include:

• advancing the work developed in dementia by extending to other mental health issues notably depression
  
• concentrating on and co-ordinating good practice while developing capacity by training BME elders and workers directly through the care pathway:
  information -> communication -> assessment -> care -> recovery
  
• investing in a community-centred approach with solutions found to address a near hidden problem implementing the Government’s DRE in Mental Health Action Plan concerning BME elders
  
• increasing the ability and capacity of organisations responsible for its implementation
  
• gathering and using sound national research evidence
  
• giving recognition to specific ethnic and gender differences among BME elders in mental health care

What has PRIAE been doing to date?
Over the last two years, PRIAE has been identifying areas of good practice: projects, services, publications and partners.

For details of publications and resources available on depression, dementia and ethnicity, go to Webpage Resources May 2008

The Project has established links and information exchange with many strategic and operational/research organisations – many of who sit on the Better Mental Health for BME Elders Working Group.

For details of BME services and activities across the UK, go to the Care Services Improvement Partnership (CSIP) website on http://www.olderpeoplesmentalhealth.csip.org.uk/silo/files/bme-national-mapping.pdf

In 2007, PRIAE carried out an appraisal of more than 20 UK mental health policy and research documents. This exercise highlighted the key service gaps and concerns for BME elders accessing mental health services, which informed the development of the training programme. 

This exercise revealed that there is a real need for statutory agencies in the health, social care and criminal justice sectors to receive training on cultural competence. And, there is a real need for community-based groups to understand the referral pathways of mental health services.

Consequently, PRIAE – in collaboration with its partners – has developed a community education training programme that integrates:

• raising the awareness of those who work in the voluntary sector on the referral pathways for minority ethnic elders accessing mental health services (particularly depression, dementia and Alzheimers)
  
• raising the cultural competence of professionals who come into contact with elders from the South Asian, African Caribbean and Chinese communities

PRIAE and members of the Working Group felt it was crucial that the voluntary sector organisations (which provide BME mental health advice, advocacy or support services to BME elders) understood the referral pathways – if they are to support or advise BME elders. 

It is vital that professionals working in the field of mental health have an understanding of the cultural needs of the BME communities.  PRIAE felt that this would enhance communication and co-operation between professionals and practitioners working on behalf of BME elders with depression or dementia (and their carers) in the voluntary sector and statutory agencies. 

Both stages are essential to deliver effective services that engage BME elders with depression or dementia (and their carers) as well as build a strong working relationship between the two sectors - ensuring sustainability as well as developing a better understanding of the services that each sector delivers.

PRIAE in collaboration with its operational and strategic partners, are delivering training on referral pathways, cultural competence and engaging BME elders who have depression and/or dementia throughout July 2008 – January 2009.  These training events are being piloted in Bradford, Huddersfield, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield.  For further information on the training programme, go to Web 3 stage training

Physical exercise improves mental wellbeing, but how can you motivate elders from black and minority communities to be more active? One way is through buying our 'Get Active Today' DVD for £1.50+pp to encourage that change. More details of how to order the DVD and also about the Ageing Actively in Minority Communities (AIM) project can be found at the following link PRIAE - AIM Project

If you require more information about the Managing Better Mental Health for BME Elders Project, please contact Yolande Watson on 0113 285 5990 or on 07949477483.

To become a partner of the project, please complete the brief questionnaire which is available to download at the following link Partners and Good_Practice_November 2007