The Mental Health Foundation’s 2025 report sheds light on the significant mental health challenges experienced by asylum seekers and refugees in the UK. It emphasizes the need for trauma-informed policies and better support systems to address these issues.
Read the full report: The Mental Health of Asylum Seekers and Refugees in the UK – 2025 Edition
SP is important in addressing health inequalities, particularly by targeting sociopsychological factors and managing long-term conditions. However, the complexity of these inequalities requires more tailored models and research. None of the studies examined SP within NHS National Health Inequalities framework such as Core20PLUS5. Overcoming barriers such as resource limitations, training gaps and accessibility challenges, while strengthening link-worker relationships, is essential.
The King’s Fund’s recent report delves into the health disparities experienced by women from ethnic minority groups in England. It reveals that while some groups have lower overall mortality rates than their White British counterparts, they face higher incidences of certain preventable conditions and maternal mortality. Factors such as socio-economic status, cultural assimilation, and structural racism contribute to these inequalities. The report emphasizes the need for culturally competent healthcare services and targeted policies to address these disparities.
Read the full report: The King’s Fund
As we celebrate Black History Month, it’s important to acknowledge the significant contributions of Black healthcare professionals to the NHS.
Despite facing challenges like discrimination and underrepresentation, Black healthcare workers have persisted, breaking barriers, setting new standards for excellence and have paved the way for a more inclusive healthcare system.
This month let’s celebrate their achievements and also commit to building a more equitable future within the NHS. Diversity strengthens healthcare.
From July 18th to August 17th, South-Asian Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of South Asian communities. This includes the vibrant traditions, languages, and histories from countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, and Afghanistan.
South-Asian Heritage Month reminds us of the strength in diversity and the importance of unity and inclusion. Participate in community events, explore new cultural experiences, and celebrate the rich heritage that South Asia offers.
Join us in celebrating South-Asian Heritage Month and embrace the beauty of diversity!
#HealthNow Literature review update: how has patient experience changed for people who are homeless?
Groundswell; 2022.
(People experiencing homelessness face significant health inequalities. They encounter barriers to accessing the health care they need and often have poor experiences of engaging with health care services. This report examines research published since the Groundswell 2020 #HealthNow literature review and outlines the findings from its five #HealthNow research reports.)
Health disparities and health inequalities: applying All Our Health.
Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID); 2022.
(Evidence and information for health and care professionals and the wider workforce on health disparities and health inequalities, and how they can be addressed. This resource will help frontline professionals and organisations use their trusted relationships with individuals, families and communities to address the impact of health disparities and health inequalities on groups or populations. We also recommend important actions that managers and staff holding strategic roles can take.)
National Audit of Dementia: Memory Assessment Services Spotlight Audit 2021.
Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP); 2022.
(The National Audit of Dementia (NAD) is a clinical audit programme commissioned by the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership on behalf of NHS England and the Welsh Government. In 2019 we undertook an audit of community-based memory assessment services in England and Wales.)
World Mental Health Day: rising cost of living and mental health.
House of Commons Library; 2022.
(Our mental health can change depending on our financial situation and it’s thought this relationship works in both directions: suffering financial losses or living in poverty can worsen mental health; people with mental health conditions may end up in poverty or suffer financial loss because of their illness, for example, if they are not able to work. Financial difficulties and problem debt are also associated with suicidal thoughts and dying by suicide.)
Valuing health: why prioritising population health is essential to prosperity.
British Medical Association (BMA); 2022.
(This report calls on the government to consider the health of the population as crucial to sustainable economic growth, rather than being dependent on a prosperous economy. Raising alarm about rapidly declining population health and widening health inequalities, the report identifies that the nation is facing a ‘ticking time-bomb’ of ill health with current government policies insufficient to meet the scale of the challenge.)
Bereavement is everyone’s business.
The UK Commission on Bereavement; 2022.
(This report shows how bereavement impacts us all. From dealing with complicated administration, to coping with financial and housing insecurity, it explores the challenges of returning to work or school after a bereavement and highlights the challenges being bereaved throws up in every area of life.)
This analysis reveals that the profile of international professionals registered in 2021–2022 is very different from UK joiners and the register they joined. They’re more likely to be men and they’re much more likely to be ethnically diverse. The NMC is calling on health and care employers to fully support internationally trained professionals into UK practice – and join with UK-trained nurses and midwives to create the most inclusive environment possible.
To find out more click here.
There are few culturally relevant tools focusing on young Black men’s mental health outcomes. Using approaches that lack cultural sensitivity limits services’ ability to know whether they are working well, and can lead to mistrust and disengagement. Funded by Mind, the Centre for Mental Health has designed a new, culturally informed approach to monitoring young Black men’s outcomes for accessing wellbeing support: Culturally appropriate evaluation for young Black men. It was coproduced with young Black men to identify what impact a service has on their mental health and wellbeing. Community wellbeing and mental health programmes are being asked to pilot the tool, to help determine its effectiveness.
Read the full report here.
We know people who are refugees, asylum seekers and migrants can arrive at their destination with complex physical and mental health needs. So how does the health and care system respond when they arrive in England? Take a listen to this King’s Fund podcast as they discuss refugee and migrant health care.
The Lancet Psychiatry Commission on Intimate Partner Violence and Mental Health.
The Mental Elf; 2022.
(Rachel Milligan summarises the recently published Lancet Psychiatry Commission on Intimate Partner Violence and Mental Health, which establishes a roadmap for strengthening responses across mental health services, research, and policy.)
Indicator: Hospital admissions as a result of self-harm in children and young people.
Nuffield Trust; 2022.
(Early identification, accurate diagnosis and effective treatment of mental health conditions can help to prevent self-harm and suicide in children and young people. Self-harm is when somebody intentionally damages or injures their body, and is a common way of coping with or expressing overwhelming emotional distress. Hospital admission rates are a useful measure of intentional self-harm, and an indicator of how well we are preventing this suffering from occurring.)
Finding an NHS dentist in England.
House of Commons Library; 2022.
(This page provides information on how to find an appointment with an NHS dentist in England, including a summary of guidance from the NHS and Healthwatch websites. It also provides information on NHS dental charges. The Commons Library debate pack on NHS Dentistry in England (June 2022) – https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cdp-2022-0112/ – provides more in-depth, contextual information on Government policy, dental contracts and provision.)
Improving the way family support services work for minority ethnic families.
Early Intervention Foundation (EIF); 2020.
(This report explores the experiences of minority ethnic families in accessing and receiving family support, to better understand the challenges and opportunities in how family support services work for minority ethnic families and young people.)
Improving children and young people’s mental health services Local data insights from England, Scotland and Wales.
The Health Foundation; 2022.
(This briefing presents analysis from the Health Foundation’s Networked Data Lab (NDL) about children and young people’s mental health. The analysis highlighted three key areas for urgent investigation, to help ensure children and young people get the care they need. These are: rapid increases in mental health prescribing and support provided by GPs; the prevalence of mental health problems among adolescent girls and young women; stark socioeconomic inequalities across the UK.)
