For Gypsy and Traveller mental health, we need solidarity and resistance.
Why it matters
We know there is still a far way to go in society for education around mental health - hence the need for mental health awareness week this week. We know only too well the importance of having a support service for the struggles that Gypsy and Traveller people specifically face.
The Gypsy and Traveller community we are ran by and for are more likely to face emotional distress and mental health issues, due to the barriers they may face with access to services, discrimination and the negative narratives about the community fed by the media.
The effects
Gypsies and Travellers are nearly three times more likely to be anxious than the average person and just over twice as likely to be depressed. Leeds GATE ran a suicide and mental health advocacy project Don’t Be Beat from 2018 – 2020 across West Yorkshire; we learned of a suicide every 2 months. This resulted in 6 people ending their own lives per year, in a community of 3000.
Bernard’s story
That’s why family connections, celebrating culture and supporting each other are so important.
This week, Bernard shared a bit about his journey over the past year with his mental health, coming to GATE and supporting others. Watch it here.
We hope it encourages more Gypsy and Traveller people to see talking and getting support as a strength. We also hope it shows other organisations and communities the importance of outreach and equality of treatment.
Our work so far
Funding from Live Well Leeds means dedicated staff to support our members holistically. We are pleased to be able to offer a flexible and varied support, structured around each individual member’s needs.
We now support members practically, as well as ensuring they have the emotional support in working towards better mental health.
Our service has connected people to Community Mental Health Teams, supporting members to attend appointments, with budgeting and forms, and with benefit claims, assessments, appeals and tribunals and completing various application forms amongst other tasks, that may build up and cause them to feel overwhelmed.
Due to discrimination Gypsy and Traveller people face, there is often a mistrust towards mainstream services. but mental health workers at Leeds GATE have advocated on behalf of our members, allowing them to feeling confident in accessing external services such as community wellbeing groups and CBT therapy.
One of our members who is an English Gypsy and struggles with anxiety, has built her confidence to the point she has attended a Together We Can steering group meeting, to use her experiences and opinions to guide mental health services across Leeds.
We have presented our work to various groups and organisations and are keen to promote our service further and the experiences of Gypsies and Travellers with their mental health.
Want to know more about our mental health work and connect with our team? Contact us.