The role of Black-led community organisations in supporting Black mental health: a Black emancipatory action research project

Objective

To explore the role of Black-led community organisations in supporting Black mental health and wellbeing in the UK.

Design

A qualitative, Black Emancipatory Action Research Framework was adopted. Framework application involved adequately compensating community organisations for their consultancy role; having ‘research conversations’ rather than interviewing participants; and focusing outputs on community benefit. Eight individual and group research conversations took place with nine Black directors, employees and volunteers working with Black-led community organisations, aged between 19 and 62, living in the UK. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse conversations.

Results

Three themes were developed in relation to what Black-led community organisations do for Black mental health. These are: identify and respond to mental health needs; selectively build relationships with mainstream services; and drive social and systemic improvements. Findings revealed that Black-led community organisations uniquely identify and address mental wellbeing by offering respite from racism, hosting activities, and meeting urgent needs. They navigate and facilitate access to health and social systems, protect communities from harmful services, and advocate for social and systemic change. Drawing on the study design, findings, and the broader literature, we propose three key changes to current funding, community, and research practices. These are a reconsideration of how Black-led organisations’ work is valued and measured, a forging of greater collaboration between these organisations, and bolder consideration of how research practice can benefit Black communities.

Conclusions

Black-led organisations play multiple roles in supporting individual and collective mental health, crucial for mediating the effects of racism and mitigating ethnic inequalities. To our knowledge, this is the first study to both illuminate the critical role of community organisations in promoting Black mental health in the UK and to prioritise participant, and community, benefit throughout the research process.