Co-STARS
Co-STARS is a training package jointly developed by researchers from the University of Birmingham and Black youth with lived experience of mental ill health, aiming to improve mental healthcare for young people from Black diaspora backgrounds across Birmingham.
Background
Psychosis is a severe mental illness which can change how people see the world. It impacts many aspects of the lives of individuals affected by it and can be extremely distressing. Psychosis affects vulnerable groups unfairly, with people from Black ethnic groups being more likely than White British people to experience psychosis and finding it harder to get the right support when they do. There are several reasons for this, one of which is a lack of awareness of the symptoms of mental illness, known as mental health literacy (MHL).
What we want to do
Co-STARS is seeking to promote fairer access to mental health care and we aim to do this in a variety of ways:
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Improving understanding within Black communities about symptoms of mental illness and how support can be accessed for those who need it.
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Improving education for mental health professionals around the specific challenges Black people face.
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Ensure that individuals are treated fairly regardless of background, including being offered treatment choices that respect cultural needs and that this is being done in a timely manner.
Co-STARS is a training package which has been co-designed with young people from Black African and Black Caribbean communities who have real life experience of mental health issues. The training package is delivered by these young people, locally within underserved communities in places like community centres and places of worship. Alongside this, we have developed a training package for people who work within mental health on how they can specifically support Black communities better. Finally, we will go on to test these training packages by conducting a research project in different communities to see whether they improve outcomes for young Black people experiencing mental health problems.
Enter: Co-STARS
Watch the video from our launch day on July 23, 2023
“User-led social action is vital to create a world where young Black people with mental health needs can thrive.”
— Adaya Henry, Co-STARS Launch Day 2023
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Take part
For more information on how to get involved, click the link below.
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More info
Click below for more information on the Co-STARS project.
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Contact Us
For information on how to get in touch, click the link below.