There are many Irish services across the UK providing culturally sensitive support to the Irish community. Many of the Federation's members have made strong links with statutory Mental Health commissioners to increase access for the community and ensure that support from the Mental Health Services is sensitive to the cultural needs and experiences of Irish people.
The Federation of Irish Societies has been working at both a national and regional level to ensure Irish people are represented in health inequality strategies with mental health issues on the agenda.
The Federation of Irish continues to campaign on behalf of the Irish community and our members and recommends that:
- The Department of Health should include an Irish category in all monitoring of health and social care services.
- Staff from across the health service and GP practices should be trained to recognize Irish cultural issues which affect Irish people's mental health and have knowledge of the health vulnerabilities of the Irish population
- As well as national strategic and policy support, Primary Care Trusts and statutory agencies should support Irish community health capacity building locally.
- The Irish community should be represented on key local and national mental health strategic planning and development bodies
- There should be more effective engagement of the Irish community in developing policy on health matters
- Statutory agencies should acknowledge the Irish population in key documents affecting race, ethnicity and health.
- Increased partnership working and networking between Irish organisations, BME groups and the statutory sector
Access the report on how Irish Community Care at Merseyside have worked with Wirral Primary Care Trust (PCT) to develop mental health services for the community.
For further
information about just some of the many culturally sensitive mental health
support and interventions provided by members of FIS see below.
If you would like more information about how to make representations to your Primary Care commissioners for Mental Health get in touch with the Federation and we will be happy to support you and put you in touch with members in your area who can help.
The following agencies are currently providing Mental Health services:Merseyside Irish Community Care (ICCM)
London Irish
Centre Mental Health: Irish Healthy Living Project
Brent Irish Advisory
Service (BIAS)
London Irish Women's
Centre
Immigrant
Counselling & Psychotherapy Services (icap)
Recent research:
Liverpool: CSIP COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH REPORT
National: Count me in 2008