SOUTHWARK ASSOCIATION
FOR MENTAL HEALTH

Kindred Minds

Picture of Elephant and Castle statue

Kindred Minds is a unique mental health project for people from black and minority ethnic (BME) backgrounds in Southwark and nearby areas. We are user-run and user-led project by service users for service users – We are experts by experience. Our services are open access, no cost, no referral, free membership.

Background

We have a strong past record in campaigning which includes saving a south Asian day centre (Amardeep) from closure. Don’t get down about all the changes in Southwark! Be the change! Kindred Minds looks at ways of shaping local mental health services. We provide information, support & training to enable BME users to have a say and use your experiences positively to improve services. Kindred Minds project is based in Southwark.

Why Kindred Minds? inequality in mental health services has been well documented for decades and we know that people from BME communities (particularly African Caribbean) often fare badly under the Mental Health Systems e.g. more likely:-

  • to be diagnosed with schizophrenia
  • to be sectioned under the Mental Health Act/placed on a community treatment order
  • to be held in forensic settings for long periods
  • to be treated with medication & less likely to be referred to and/or accepted for talking treatments