Councillor's concerns over men's mental health

A Trafford councillor is campaigning to highlight the importance of men’s mental health.

Cllr Jane Slater has spoken out about men’s mental health, particularly in the Black African-Caribbean and Asian communities, during Black History Month.

Cllr Slater is concerned that figures suggest male members of these communities are less likely than white men to approach mental health services for help.

The Mental Health Foundation found that rates of mental health problems can be higher nationally for some Black African-Caribbean and Asian groups than for white people. For example:

• Black African-Caribbean men are more likely to have experienced a psychotic disorder in the last year than White men
• Black African-Caribbean people are four times more likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act than White people
• Older South Asian women are an at-risk group for suicide
• Refugees and Asylum Seekers are more likely to experience mental health problems than the general population, including higher rates of depression, anxiety and PTSD

Now, Cllr Slater, who recently attended a Voice of BAME-Trafford meeting at the Limelight Centre in Old Trafford, wants to appeal to Black African-Caribbean and Asian men to seek help for any mental health issues they may have.

Cllr Slater, Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing and Equalities, said: “Rates of mental health problems can be much higher for Black African-Caribbean and Asian people than white people.  In a number of communities, mental health problems are not really spoken about and are often viewed with a certain sense of stigma and embarrassment.

“It is very important to address this issue as it can discourage certain groups, particularly Black African-Caribbean and Asian males, from seeking the help they so desperately need. I would encourage anyone from any background to seek help if they are struggling with their mental health.”

For more information on the Voice of BAME-Trafford group, please see their website: The Voice of BME Trafford inspiring heath and wellbeing - Webflow HTML website template (traffordcollective.org.uk)