Limiting MH support to certain cultural areas?

[Mindcultural]

I have today received this message below from a mental health support service for young people.

AIBU to think it’s completely wrong to offer support based on cultural diversity and would like to know how they decide who fits this criteria?

Hi,

I’m getting touch as you have recently made a referral to our Youth In Mind services on behalf of a child or young person.

Unfortunately, we are having to reduce the size of the team for funding reasons, so we now only have funding to support young people from culturally diverse communities, if this is relevant for the individual you referred to us, please can I ask that you complete this form forms.office.com and we will be back in touch accordingly.

If we are now no longer able to offer support to the individual you have made a referral for, please accept our apologies for this. Please feel free to keep an eye on our website for updated information regarding available services as we are always looking for new funding opportunities to allow us to reach more children and young people.

This, it would be front page news if anyone fundraised for a mental health grant to be issued only for children white British heritage!!

Have to admit I usually have no issue with stuff being targeted at ethnic minority groups but I don't agree with this. NHS mental health services are equally available to ethnic minority children as they are to white children so I don't see why it should be permitted to actively bar access to a massive charity service, to white children.

I hate all the reform stuff but I see stuff like this and start to see why brassed off people are feeling marginalised and tempted to vote for them.

Imagine your local Rape Crisis or Women’s Aid said it can now only support culturally diverse women. Because that’s the comparison.

It’s not some small charity that just cropped up with the specific aim to support BAME children. It’s a children and young people charity, aimed at all children and young people that now says it ca only help BAME children and young people.

Charities cannot discriminate against protected characteristics, even if they have a funding stream that's restricted, unless they can legally justify it (which they might well be able to in this case) AND it is in line with their governing documents to do so.

You’re making things up though, there’s nothing to suggest they are using NHS funding and not allowing open applications for support.
In fact their statement specifically says the only funding they have available right now is aimed at various diversities. I’m sure it’s probably outlined in the link they sent about what’s applicable and what isn’t.
That is breaking the equalities act, it’s very common for charities to have specific funding that is only for specific programs and not the general funding for their general provision. You don’t know what you’re talking about.

@Mindcultural I wish you all the best finding the support you need.

the charity will in the main be funded by large pots of money that are manly available to services for either/or young people under 25, men in severe MH crisis, diverse communities, elderly etc.

it’s a sad fact that we can generally only afford to support those sectors where the funding is.

perhaps look to the government and the nhs funding cuts and the reason why NHS and community MH services are on their knees to the point that we have to expect charities and volunteers to pick up the pieces rather than the nhs as it should be able to?

you and Sheila not donating you £20 a year won’t really impact them. It’s the £100k grants they need. Maybe if you offer to help them with fundraising so the can offer their services to a wider audience? Have you a plan for where another £80K etc could come from a year? Can you help manage a community funding drive? Honestly charities are struggling now. People managing them need help. Offer them a free hours a month of admin support or bid writing or social media help etc?

BAME families also have children with horrific trauma and difficulties, and less support than white families. That’s not ok.

Well really if you put a bit of thought into it everyone is culturally diverse so I’d ignore it. Find some cultural diversity - are your family Catholic, or not from the area, or like morris dancing and just apply anyway.

Why aren't you angry that their funding has been cut?

That's the issue, not the groups left over that they have received separate funding for.

Worth noting that the OP has referred a young person to a specific project at Mind Leeds. A quick look on their website shows they run a community based mental health support service for people over 18, a social prescribing service, a bereavement service, and an art therapy service.

They are still delivering a number of other services for people of all ethnic minorities. It’s just that the funding they have been given does not allow them to support the young person in this case.

It completely ignores the ND and LGBT communities and the far higher levels of suicide in both alongside the fact there is nothing anywhere. Try telling the parents of white seriously ill ND LGBT kids that they’re better off ,they’re not.

Multicultutal cities are far better off than poor rural seaside towns anyway.

It’s their only currently funded program, the rest is at capacity. The alternative, and likely what will be the case in a few weeks when the program is full, will just be an email stating ‘thanks for your interest, unfortunately we don’t have the funds to take on any new applicants right now, please check back soon’.
What do you want them to do, close one program aimed only at those from diverse backgrounds because their general funding is at capacity?

This is true, but it's highly unlikely that they wouldn't be able to meet the legal justification test.

Try telling brown seriously ill kids that they come below white ND and LGBT families.

How does that work?

It depends where they live!!!! Some areas of the country are massively less well funded than others- from education to transplant and MH provision.

Any charity should be based on need. Excluding high need groups and areas is not focusing on need.

So a white British person in dire need of mental health services will get rejected in favour of a black or brown British person who isn’t in dire need? That’s racist

I’m so sorry to hear that, it’s horrendous and not something any family should have to go through. I hope things are better now.

But it doesn’t make this charity biased, racist or unfair. Other posters have commented about directing your anger and energy to the right place - your local MP - that’s the solution here.

White kids are being told just that. Basing MH provision on skin colour as opposed to need is not ok- full stop.

Charity funding is a fucking nightmare at the best of times, and this isn't the best of times.

The amount of time I spent bending our finance and reporting capacities into whatever pretzel-shaped requirements the funding stipulated was draining and depressing.

Funders are buggers.

This charity is completely wrong- as others have pointed out.

And we wonder why Reform is becoming so popular.

Who says white British children are excluded?

There are charities specifically dedicated to supporting the mental health of neurodiverse people though.
You’re acting like there are never any targeted initiatives or charities for specific challenges.

Where?

Why not just British children in the greatest need? Why does it have to be based on skin colour?

The website, We support young people from culturally diverse communities – anyone from a racially, culturally or ethnically diverse background.

I’ve never come across anything like this;-

Youth in Mind Services
Buddies
by Bradford Youth Service for ages 11-19 or up to 25 with additional needs
Inspired Young and Healthy People
by Inspired Neighbourhoods for ages 5-13 in Primary and Secondary School
Counselling & Therapeutic Support
by Invictus Wellbeing for ages 5-18 or up to 25 with additional needs
Mighty Minds
by SELFA for ages 5-19 or up to 25 with additional needs
WRAP Support
by Barnardo's for ages 5-19 or up to 25 with additional needs
Hospital Buddies
by BDC Mind for ages 5-19
Know Your Mind
by BDC Mind for ages 5-19 or up to 25 with additional needs
MAGIC
by Brathay for ages 5-11
Youth in Mind providers

If I had maybe the hell we’re living through with our children wouldn’t be happening.