Supporting Black Mental Health in South East London
Addressing mental health inequalities is a priority for our communities in Greenwich, and the Let’s Talk Health and Care South East London platform is helping to bring lived experiences to the forefront. The Reducing Black Mental Health Inequalities initiative recognises what Healthwatch Greenwich hears every day: Black people continue to experience poorer access, engagement, and outcomes in mental health care. The 2018 Race Disparity Audit showed that Black men are more than ten times as likely to have experienced a psychotic disorder in the previous year compared to White men, highlighting the scale of the challenge.
NHS South East London, in partnership with Impact on Urban Health, is working with Black communities across the region to imagine what affirming mental health care should look like—and what needs to change to make that vision a reality. Workshops like the upcoming Black Mental Health Community Action Workshop bring together residents with lived experience, carers, local advocates, and health professionals to co-design solutions. Participants are invited to map the journey from current services to a more equitable system, identifying practical actions that could be developed and funded in the next stages of the programme.
For Healthwatch Greenwich, this approach reflects our belief that community voices must guide health and care transformation. As part of the wider South East London Healthwatch collaboration, we consistently advocate for pathways that improve access and reduce long‑standing inequalities affecting our Black communities. By creating spaces for honest conversations and shared decision‑making, this programme is taking meaningful steps to rebuild trust and improve experiences.
We encourage Greenwich residents with lived experience of mental health challenges—or those caring for someone who does—to take part in shaping this important work. Your insights are essential to ensuring mental health services across South East London become fairer, more compassionate, and truly community‑led.
