Journey of a Black Man into Psychotherapy: Professional Pathways into Psychological Therapy Pedro Psychotherapist – City and Hackney Mind Pedro Queiroz talks candidly about his journey to becoming a mental health professional in London, UK. His journey takes us from Angola, South West Africa where he was born to Portugal, South Africa to London where studying and working, being made redundant and the adversity of life in between marriage and children resulted in his profession as a therapist in City and Hackney Mind.
If you think you have a mental health issue self-refer to IRIE Mind or Talk Changes. Or see your GP for support from Tavistock & Portman.
Listen to Genesis Elijah talk about what it is to be a black man living. The mental defence mechanism that becomes part of navigating through life in an environment that may force you to adjust your behaviour and demeanour in order to avoid discrimination and to ‘fit into’ the status quo can negatively impact mental health. The hyper awareness required to keep safe can take it’s toll and the statistics mentioned in the video speak for themselves. Bipolar UK who commissioned the video (2018) state that ‘in the UK individuals from black and minority ethnic groups are more likely to be diagnosed with mental health problems, be diagnosed and admitted to hospital, experience a poor outcome from treatment and disengage from mainstream health services, leading to a sense of disenfranchisement and deterioration in their mental health.’
If you think you have a mental health issue self-refer to IRIE Mind or Talk Changes. Or see your GP for support from Tavistock & Portman.
In this video and powerful, must watch conversation, IRIE Mind’s YBM Speak Your Mind group are in a Planning The Self Seminar on Self Talk. Watch to see if you can locate any of your own thinking and behaviours that match and find out how to build the skills to overcome any challenges. IRIE Mind is a Hackney based space that champions black mental health to ‘provide community-based solutions to mental illness.’ The project itself is Black led to reflect the culture and know how of the individuals they work with. Get help here.
This film shot by Adeyemi Michael and aired on Channel 4 news dates back to 2018. Since then an overhaul of the Mental Health Act 1983 has been announced by the UK government. Why are Black men more likely to suffer psychotic disorders? The real question is – are they and what is the cause? Conversations like this that involve our local counsellors as Cllr Jacqui Dyer features in this film, that take place in the public space – press, news and social media are important. Chat Works is here to help raise awareness on mental health provision in the borough of Hackney to engage in conversations and activities that eliminate fear and force services to be better informed and culturally competent and engaged. If you need help and support for yourself of someone you know get in touch. Visit the Get Help page for further information.
Marni is one of SWIM’s Kickstart placements. He answers the question: Who or what has been your anchor during the emotional rollercoaster of the last 18 months? Share your thoughts in response to Marni or answer the question yourself in the comments below. Watch to the end of the video for Chat Works’ bonus question relating to the Hackney local area!
If you think you have a mental health issue self-refer to IRIE Mind or Talk Changes. Or see your GP for support from Tavistock & Portman.
Rebuilding From the Inside Out is the first series of content from the Chat Works Hackney mental well-being digital platform. Ruqqaiyah, one of SWIM’s Kickstart placement’s shares her experience of what has anchored her during these strange times of pandemic lockdown and what it’s been like for her in the UK, London. Ruqqaiyah transforms her mindset by not comparing herself with others and overcoming negative self-talk. Watch, it’s good advice.
If you think you have a mental health issue self-refer to IRIE Mind or Talk Changes. Or see your GP for support from Tavistock & Portman.