Mental Health Services—Black & Minority Ethnic Groups

There are no groups in Cambridge for black and minority ethnic people who have mental health problems but there are organisations which provide information, support and advice generally.

Links

The Royal College of Psychiatrists has produced a leaflet (www.rcpsych.ac.uk/campaigns/partnersincare.aspx) on caring for people with mental health issues.

You can download a factsheet (www.mind.org.uk/Information/Factsheets/Carers/) from Mind covering benefits, assessment, help available and other topics.

Visit the  'Caring for someone' (http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/CaringForSomeone/index.htm) section of Directgov. This provides a single point of access to government information and services - including Carer's Allowance, carers' assessments and other support.

Local Contacts

Cambridge Caribbean Association (CamCarib)
C/o CCEF
62-64 Victoria Road
Cambridge
CB4 3DU

Tel: 01954 782873 (Chairperson)
Tel: 01480 831158 (Secretary)
Email:  info@camcarib@yahoo.co.uk
Website::  www.camcarib.co.nr

The primary aims of the organisation are:

  • To examine and represent the special needs of the people of West Indian or similar backgrounds who are approaching or are already in retirement.
  • To share social, cultural and education activities.
  • To meet with younger people supporting the association.
  • To provide communication on matters of health care and social services.
  • To provide talks, discussion and information relating to current affairs with particular reference to the Caribbean region and to the interests of people of West Indian or similar origins in the UK and other countries.
  • To promote the well-being and understanding of Caribbean peoples in Cambridgeshire.

Cambridge Ethnic Community Forum
62-64 Victoria Road
Cambridge
CB4 3DU

Tel/Fax: 01223 315877
Website: www.cecf.co.uk/

Open by appointment. The Forum is a voluntary organisation that provides support/advice for minority ethnic communities in overcoming racial discrimination and harassment in e.g. housing, employment, health, nationality, immigration, education, criminal justice system, social welfare and areas of private and public life.

CRISP (Cambridge Racial Incident Support Project)
62-64 Victoria Road
Cambridge
CB4 3DU

Tel: 01223 462615
Email: crisp@cecf.co.uk

For confidential help, support and advice for people suffering from racial harassment and discrimination.

Cambridge Open Out Scheme

Rukshana Begum (Cambridgeshire)
Tel: 0845 456456 4 (Ext) 3552  
Mobile: 07736 086700
Email: rukshana.begum@cambs.pnn.police.uk

 The Open Out Scheme is a multi agency project offering victims and witnesses of Hate Crime the opportunity to report and resolve incidents with or without police involvement.

Hate Crime is any criminal offence committed against a person or property that is motivated by hatred for someone because of their: race, disability (including mental health issues), religion, gender, sexuality or age.  Hate Crime can be: verbal abuse, threatening attacks, damage to home or property, physical abuse, harassment or bullying in education or the workplace.  Many Hate Crimes go unreported leaving offenders free to commit similar offences with impunity.

If you have been attacked or harassed because of your disability you may be feeling very scared. Open Out is a reporting scheme for Hate Crimes and is there to help you.  Open Out aims to provide alternative centres, other than police stations, in which victims and witnesses of Hate Crime can report incidents in complete confidence (such as community centres, libraries, leisure centres, councils and cafes).  The scheme offers support, information and advice to victims and witnesses of Hate Crime. If you or anyone you know has been a victim of Hate Crime, please contact one of the Open Out Coordinators detailed above.

CINTRA (Cambridgeshire Interpreting and Translation Agency)
351-353 Newmarket Road
Cambridge
CB5 8JG

Tel: 01223 346870
Website: www.colc.co.uk/cambridge/cintra/
Email: cintra@cintra.org.uk

This service offers a complete interpreting and translation service for users and providers of public and voluntary services in Cambridgeshire. Anyone who needs an interpreter to provide or use a service can contact them and access the whole range of CINTRA services with one phone call.

National Contacts

Diverse Minds

Tel: 020 8519 2122
Email: diverseminds@mind.org.uk

This is the department of national Mind which deals with ethnic community issues.