Over the past few months, the PCREF team in partnership with The Wellbeing Hub, Dagenham Park School, Redbridge mental health and wellness, NELFT Patient experience and Peer support teams held three focus engagement sessions to explore the mental health and wellbeing of South Asian women.

The first session, on Monday 10 June, involved South Asian women in collaboration with The Wellbeing Hub (Black Women Kindness Initiative). Inspired by the emotional emancipation circle by UK Black Psychologists, the session addressed cultural and societal pressures, family and gender roles, traditional stigmas, and the impact of migration on mental health. Themes of loneliness and generational trauma were prominent, emphasizing the need for healing spaces within the community.

The second session, on Friday 12 July, took place at Al Huda Institute the engagement session brought together South Asian women from Barking and Dagenham and other local areas to discuss faith, culture, spirituality, and family in the context of  cultural identity and resilience. Participants shared ideas for improving mental health service experiences and outcomes. The session underscored the importance of cultural context in mental health support.

The third session, on  Monday 15 July at Dagenham Park Church of England School, engaged 10 female students from Years 7-9. South Asian young women spoke about   their families and their personal mental health journeys. The students discussed generational influences and wisdom. They expressed the need for ongoing sessions and involving older family members to explore culturally appropriate mental health care.

Anmol, who has been involved in the engagement sessions,  said:

“These sessions help us feel heard and relate with others, by learning about other people’s experiences with mental health struggles. I'm hoping we can provide future generations support with their mental health and let them know that it Is not something that should be ignored or overlooked.”

Collectively, these sessions highlighted significant generational and cultural awareness in addressing mental health among South Asian communities, calling for continued dialogue and inclusive approaches to mental health support.

Gul Begum, who’s been involved in the engagement sessions, said:

“I’m Bangladeshi, and as a service user and a mother I’m proud to be involved in the South Asian women’s group. Stigma and language barriers are often the reasons why women might be scared of asking for mental health support. It can be taboo, and that they will be seen as not fit to look after their kids.

I believe that there is always room for change and that can only be achieved by working together. Co-production is the way to make mental health services better for both staff and service users.

That’s why we are working with schools, mosques and local organisations to reach out to our community to talk about what support is available, and to make services easier to access.

This project will empower lots of women to come forward and use these services when they need to.”

If you would like to know more about PCREF or get involved please email PCREF@nelft.nhs.uk.