Growing racial equity in youth counselling and mental health support
Youth Access commissioned us to deliver this co-production project, aiming to help address and dismantle the gross racial inequities seen in therapeutic support.
Over a series of online interviews and workshops, and an in-person workshop, we brought together learning from four organisations which work specifically with young people of Black heritage, as well as the young people they serve.
Crucially, this project was based on the premise of decolonising not ‘diversifying’. We were not looking at inclusion initiatives to encourage more diversity in mainstream services, but rather, recognising the impact of colonisation and systemic racism in building a mental health system where Black people in particular face massive inequities and injustices. Thus, we explored therapeutic approaches that centre Blackness, acknowledge oppression, and honour collective, cultural and ancestral tools for wellbeing.
As a project led by the voices of lived experience and people facing ongoing racial trauma, we were careful to centre care as both an ethos and a practice.
Following the release of the report, we hosted a launch webinar attended by over 80 participants, inculding youth workers, therapists and lived experience experts.
Testimony:
“Both presenters gave me more confidence in both "imagining myself" in the perspectives/experience of a person of a different race, and also in "self soothing" when my own tension or "otherness" is affecting my wellbeing or behaviours negatively.”
“Excellent delivery. Presented challenging ideas without making participants feel uncomfortable / criticised.”
“I appreciated the focus on inner feeling”
-Session participants