‘Black Women and Mental Health – Developing Holistic Interventions’ Conference

Date: Thursday 17 May 2007
Venue: ORT House Conference, London NW1

About the conference series

This conference series brings together expertise from different disciplines to explore some of the historical, emotional, social, cultural and spiritual factors that influence mental illness in black and minority ethnic women. The series offers an opportunity to look beyond the surface to identify how past oppression can influence identity, negative self-perceptions and well-being.

Aims of this conference

This is the second in a series of conferences looking at minority ethnic women's mental health in the context of life in 21st century Britain. The growing number of black and Asian women, including refugees and asylum seekers, are up to four times more likely to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital than white women. This poses challenges to service providers and creates increased levels of distress, stigma and overwhelming sadness in minority communities. The conference will offer an in-depth reflection on issues that are often marginalised in mental health provisions and advise on practical exposition of effective alternative models of care.

Participants can expect to learn about:

• the experiences of mental illness in black and Asian women and the effects on children, families and communities
• the impact of physical, psychological and social traumas experienced by refugees and asylum seeking women
• the impact of culture, ethnicity and spirituality on women's mental health
• the mental health needs and experiences of female refugees and asylum seekers
• good practice models in women's mental health services
• approaches to supporting black and Asian female service users, families and carers
• strategies for sustaining mentally healthy living among black women
• holistic and innovative approaches to emotional healing for black women
• prevention and early intervention approaches that work for black women
• exploring minority women's fears, stigmas and other barriers to seeking mental health services.

Conference themes

• Understanding the sources, process and impact of unresolved traumas and emotional distress experienced by black and Asian women.
• Reflecting on a range of black and Asian women's experiences of mental health services.
• Redefining and applying models of recovery and healing.
• Developing holistic, innovative and preventative emotional healing for black communities.

Confirmed speakers include:

• Yvonne Christie Independent Advocate for Change
• Eileen Phillip Service User Survivor
• Melba Wilson Acting Chief Executive and Women's Lead, London Development Centre, CSIP
• Jayasree Kalathil Service User Researcher
• Marcia Rice Director and Mental Health Consultant, Change4life
• Angela Linton Abula Project Co-ordinator, Brent Black Women's Service
• Narinder Gharial Mental Health Manager, Confederation of Indian Organisations

Who should attend?

• Mental health service users
• Families, friends and carers of people who have, or have had, mental health difficulties
• Women's services and health providers
• Domestic violence services
• Refugee and asylum seeker organisations
• BME organisations and representative of service users
• NHS and independent mental health professionals
• Community health service providers
• GPs, community psychiatric nurses
• Health organisations eg. Department of Health
• Commissioners of mental health services
• Professional bodies, Royal College of Psychiatrists, RCN, RCPPs
• Educational psychologists
• Social services and social housing providers
• National, European and International policy-makers and academics
• Religious and faith leaders

Conference rates

Standard rate: £295 + VAT (central government/private sector organisation)
Reduced rate: £255 + VAT (public sector/educational/charitable/NHS/voluntary organisation)
Supported rate: £195 + VAT (unwaged/student/small voluntary sector organisations)

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