Race Equality Matters (3/2/21)

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Race Equality Week

 This week marks the UK’s first Race Equality Week and I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge what 'wellness' means to our BAME* staff and students who are disproportionately affected by COVID, as they are by many other illnesses and diseases including mental health problems. As well as systemic health inequalities, our BAME colleagues and peers will face frequent bias, discrimination, and racism which undoubtably contributes to their overall wellbeing.

Certain groups within the BAME population are much more likely to experience a mental health problem than the white population, yet more white people receive treatment for mental health issues than BAME people. Some of the barriers preventing access to mental health support in the BAME population include cultural barriers; fear of Mental Health Services where Black males in particular, are more likely to be imprisoned than treated; language barriers; white professionals not being able to fully understand what racism or discrimination is like and/or having a lack of knowledge about what might be important to a person of colour or their experiences (Rethink Mental Illness, 2020).

 We all have a part to play in the wellness of our BAME colleagues, peers, friends and students. This week, the University is inviting staff and students to do just one thing each day to further your understanding of power, privilege, supremacy, oppression, and equity. Please see the following link for information and resources, a 7-day Racial Equality Habit Challenge for colleagues and students and a space on Yammer for reflection and discussion:

Link to information for staff.

Link to information for students. 

*Please note that although BAME is an accepted term to refer to the non-white population, there is controversy surrounding its use and alternative terms may be preferable,such as Global Majority, Black, Racially Minoritized. People always prefer to be called by their name, but when referring to a group if possible it is always best to ask ðŸ˜Š

​Wishing you a positive week ✨

Related references and resources:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1470581/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352827318302246

https://www.health.org.uk/news-and-comment/news/health-foundation-statement-on-racial-inequalities-in-health

https://www.baatn.org.uk/

Links to University mental health support:

Staff

Students

Thank you to Leyonie Higgins for her contribution to this post.

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