Trauma-informed care and the needs of racialised communities

Our important work highlights the nature and impact of trauma experienced by racialised communities, and the urgent need for healthcare services to embed trauma-informed, culturally sensitive and anti-racist approaches to mental health care. 

Racism causes trauma and mental ill health. It shapes people’s experiences across generations and continues to affect access to support today. Public services can unintentionally reproduce harm, and too often care is not culturally sensitive or aligned with people’s lived experiences. Our report calls for a UK-wide commitment to trauma-informed, anti-racist practice, backed by the Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework. 

The webinar will be led by the Observatory’s chair Dame Marie Gabriel and will share key findings from the report, produced in partnership with Centre for Mental Health and Coffee Afrik CIC. Speakers will discuss the implications for mental health services, the role of community led support, and what needs to change to ensure people receive the care they deserve. There will also be a Q&A panel discussion with questions from the audience.

Speakers include: 

• Dame Marie Gabriel – Chair of the NHS Race and Health Observatory
• Abdirahim Hassan – Founder of Coffee Afrik CIC 
• David Woodhead – Associate Director of Research at Centre for Mental Health
• Khaleel Mohammed – Youth Lead at Coffee Afrik CIC

Additional speakers to be confirmed.

This webinar will be of particular interest to clinical and operational staff working in mental health, those working in third sector organisations and policymakers and partners working to improve mental health equity.