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We’re excited to share news about a year-long exhibition and program called “Remembering What’s Forgotten“, which will launch online and in person in Leeds from October next year. Created by two organisations, Synergi-Leeds and Words of Colour, it aims to address the overrepresentation of black and South Asian men in Leeds detained under the Mental Health Act.
Funded by Leeds & York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, and supported by Leeds City Council, and Forum Central, the program will use creative methods like films, audio, poetry, and photos to showcase the stories of 60 contributors, spanning 50 years of community initiatives.
The initiative responds to concerning mental health statistics, showing that:
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- Black people are four times more likely than white people to be detained under the Mental Health Act.
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- Black and minority ethnic people are 40% more likely to access mental health care through the criminal justice system than white people.
- Black and minority ethnic people are less likely to get support through their GP, and are more likely to end up in crisis care.
Launching in October 2024 in Leeds, “Remembering What’s Forgotten” honors Heather Nelson’s legacy, CEO, and Founder of the Black Health Initiative. The program aims to acknowledge and honor those who have contributed to advancing mental health equality in Leeds.
MindWell, part of the Synergy network, recognises the importance of addressing mental health inequalities and racial injustice in the Leeds mental health system.
We are pleased to share news about the upcoming 12-month online and in-person exhibition and program, Remembering What’s Forgotten, due to launch in Leeds from October next year. This initiative, co-founded by Synergi-Leeds and Words of Colour, aims to amplify community and lived experience narratives to tackle the overrepresentation of black and South Asian men detained under the Mental Health Act in Leeds.
The program, funded by Leeds & York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, and supported by Leeds City Council, and Forum Central, will make use of creative and heritage methods such as film, audio, poetry, archive, co-production, and photovoice techniques. The digital and in-person exhibition will showcase the narratives of 60 contributors, creating a curated timeline reflecting 50 years of community initiatives, allyship, and knowledge.
“Racial injustice, especially when you look at the overrepresentation of black people detained under the Mental Health Act, isn’t new…”
Sara Munro, CEO of Leeds & York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
This initiative is a response to enduring statistics that highlight racial disparities in mental health, which show that:
- Black people are four times more likely than white people to be detained under the Mental Health Act.
- Black and minority ethnic people are 40% more likely to access mental health care via the criminal justice system than white people.
- Black and minority ethnic people are less likely to access primary care support through their GP, and more likely to end up in crisis care.
Sara Munro, CEO of Leeds & York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, emphasised the importance of addressing racial injustice in mental health, stating, “Racial injustice, especially when you look at the overrepresentation of black people detained under the Mental Health Act, isn’t new. Remembering What’s Forgotten has a crucial role to play in acknowledging and rectifying this issue.”
Sharon Prince, Deputy Director Psychological Professions, Leeds & York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Co-Lead of Synergi-Leeds, added, “The Synergi-Leeds network believes that knowledge which resides in the community isn’t often privileged in regional and national initiatives. Remembering What’s Forgotten will put the spotlight on the histories, people, communities, and organisations instrumental in championing mental health equity in Leeds.”
Working with co-producing partners Touchstone, Heritage Corner and Artistic Director Khadijah Ibrahiim (Leeds Young Authors), the programme will host focus groups for carers and service users, appoint a lived experience poet in residence and provide two lived experience curator internships. Former Leeds United footballer, BBC broadcaster and mental health advocate Sanchez Payne has also signed up as a project ally.
Remembering What’s Forgotten is set to launch as a hybrid exhibition, both online and in-person, in Leeds from October 2024. This program is dedicated to the late Heather Nelson (1965 – 2023), CEO, and Founder of the Black Health Initiative, reflecting the importance of acknowledging and honouring those who have paved the way in the mental health sector.
MindWell, as a part of the Synergy network, recognises the importance of understanding, validating and challenging mental health inequalities and racial injustice in the Leeds mental health system and we are currently revising our long term strategy to reflect this.