Mental Health & Wellbeing
Breaking Stigma. Building Trust. Strengthening Communities.
Mental health matters in every family and every community. Yet for many Black, African, Caribbean and culturally diverse communities, talking about mental health or seeking support can still be difficult. At Afrikindness, we recognise that the wellbeing of children and young people is closely connected to the wellbeing of the families and communities around them.
Why Mental Health?
For Afrikindness, mental health is not a standalone conversation.
- Intersection :- Our work with parents, young people and culturally diverse communities has shown us how mental wellbeing can intersect with culture, identity, parenting, relationships, neurodiversity, racism, safeguarding, faith, migration and belonging.
- Culturally responsive Services:- We also recognise that having mental health services available does not automatically mean communities will access them. Cultural stigma, fear of judgement, lack of awareness, experiences of racism and discrimination, migration experiences, financial and family pressures, unfamiliarity with UK services, and mistrust of systems can all influence when, where and whether people seek help.
- Getting Support:- People need to know that support exists. They need to understand how to access it. Most importantly, they need to trust the people and services providing that support
This is why our approach combines awareness, culturally responsive education, community engagement, research, resources and partnerships with specialist services.
What Our Research Is Telling Us
Our community research, delivered in collaboration with Leeds Mental Wellbeing Service and Touchstone, explored mental health awareness and the barriers Black communities in Leeds experience when seeking support.
36.6%
Self-reported poor understanding of mental health.
Mental Health Understanding
66%
Feel Mental health issues are stigmatised in Black communities
Mental Health Stigma
52.7%
Do not have confidence accessing mental health services in Leeds.
Confidence Accessing Support
76%
Have not accessed, or do not know someone who has accessed mental health services in Leeds
Limited Experience of Mental Health Services
Every figure above comes directly from our research programme and reflects the voices and experiences of participating communities.
Explore the Research
Research project. Sept. 2026
Breaking Barriers:
Understanding Access to Mental Health Support in Black Communities in Leeds
- Improve mental health awareness
- Challenge stigma and misconceptions
- Encourage open conversations
- Recognise signs of mental health challenges
- Access appropriate support services
- Build confidence to seek support
- Build resilience and coping skills
- Create safer, more supportive communities
- Strengthen emotional wellbeing
- Support family and community wellbeing
Our Services
Our work creates culturally safe spaces where people can talk, learn, ask questions, access trusted information and connect with appropriate support.
Community Mental Health Awareness
Taking the conversation into communities
Some of the most important conversations about mental health need to happen in the places where people already feel safe and connected. Afrikindness works with community groups, faith organisations, parents, men, women and young people to deliver accessible mental health awareness sessions within culturally familiar environments.
Our sessions help communities understand mental health, recognise common signs of mental health difficulties, challenge myths, understand when and how to seek support and learn about local NHS and community services.
We adapt conversations to the needs of each community rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach.
Culturally Responsive Mental Health Training
Supporting communities – and supporting the professionals who serve them
Culture can shape how distress is understood, described and responded to. Afrikindness offers culturally responsive workshops for professionals, practitioners, leaders and service providers working with Black and culturally diverse communities.
Sessions explore mental health and stigma, building trust, cultural and faith perspectives, trauma-informed engagement, meaningful co-production, and reaching under-engaged communities.
We combine professional knowledge, lived experience and community insight to help organisations move beyond awareness towards culturally responsive practice.
Parent & Family Mental Health Support
Helping parents understand, recognise and respond
Parents are often the first people to notice that something has changed in their child. But knowing what you are seeing, what to say, when to be concerned and where to seek support is not always straightforward. Through our Parent Connect webinars, Afrikindness creates opportunities for parents to learn about mental health and emotional wellbeing in a practical, culturally sensitive way.
Our parent talks and resources explore areas including: Young people’s emotional wellbeing, Mental health and myths, Mindfulness, Where to access professional support.
Our aim is not to replace professional mental health services, but to help families become better informed, more confident and better connected to appropriate support.
Recognition
Afrikindness Community Mental Health Awareness Certificate
Communities completing the Afrikindness Mental Health Awareness Programme receive a certificate recognising their commitment to challenging stigma, improving awareness and creating supportive spaces for mental wellbeing.
Other Services
Community-Led Mental Health Research
Research is a critical part of our mental health work. Afrikindness works with communities, researchers and service providers to explore the inequalities affecting mental health awareness, access, experience and outcomes within Black and other racially minoritized communities.
Black Men’s Connect Group
A safe space for real conversations, real support and real community. Led by Dr Terrence Isaacs, the Circle will bring Black men together to talk openly about the things that matter: From Mental health & wellbeing to Fatherhood, Identity, Finance and much more
Mental Health Conversations, Webinars & Campaigns
We use webinars, parent talks, community conversations, campaigns and panel discussions to make mental health information accessible beyond clinical settings.
Mental Health Resources
Information you can trust – when you need it
Explore ressources on:
- For parents & carers
- Mental health & wellbeing
- Local Support Services
- Crisis Support
- Webinars & Videos
Support Helpline
Help with Understanding Mental health or Need someone to talk to.
Call us
Mon–Fri, 12pm–3pm. 0330 133 5442
In their words
What our participants say
If we had more spaces like this, so many crises could be prevented. Please don’t let this be the last time. Our community needs this more than ever.
This was the first time I sat in a room where people genuinely understood our struggles. I finally felt seen. We need more of this — more safe spaces where we can talk without fear of judgement.
A breath of fresh air. There is so much stigma around mental health in our community. Today gave us the courage to speak openly, and it showed us that we’re not alone.
Our Impact
One of the strongest messages emerging from our work in Communities is the importance of Trust.
Communities need to see that sharing their experiences leads to learning, accountability and meaningful action – rather than feeling that they are repeatedly approached for research without seeing what changes afterwards.
Our work therefore aims to move: From Community Voice → Evidence → Partnership → Action
Recognised in our communities
Awards & funding behind this work
This programme is backed by real funders who believe in it — proof this isn’t just a good idea, it’s a resourced, growing commitment to Leeds’ communities, expanding to Bradford communities.
Explore our mental health work and reach out to us directly if you’d like Afrikindness to deliver community mental health awareness sessions, culturally responsive training for organisations, community-led research, or partnership programmes designed to build trust, challenge stigma and improve access to mental health support.
Grant Aug 2026
Leeds Community Foundation
Funding to deliver a pioneering community mental health programme focused on improving mental health outcomes for Black men and strengthening support for Black families across Leeds.
Community Grant May 2025
Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust
Funding to recruit a Community Engagement Officer — a vital role that will focus on improving engagement and understanding between health services and African and Black communities in Bradford on Mental Health and Dementia
How you can support us
Volunteer, partner, or stay in the loop
Volunteer with us
Give your time, skills and experience to make a difference. Join our community of passionate volunteers supporting mental health awareness, families, young people, research and community programmes.
Whatever your expertise, there will be a place for you at Afrikindness. You could support community mental health awareness and training, offer professional expertise as a psychologist or mental health practitioner, provide listening and signposting support, contribute to research, support events, develop resources, or simply offer the skills and experience you have.
Whatever you can offer, join us and help strengthen mental health and wellbeing in our communities.
Partner with us
Are you an NHS service, local authority, mental health provider, university, researcher, voluntary organisation, funder or community organisation seeking to improve engagement with Black and culturally diverse communities?
Afrikindness can support organisations through Community Engagement | Research & Co-production | Focus Groups | Culturally Responsive Training | Community Awareness | Parent Engagement | Dissemination | Community Consultation.
Our established relationships with communities allow us to help bridge the space between services and the people those services are intended to reach.
We are also recognised by
Latest from the Mental health Project
News & updates
Pulled from our Mental health news category — this list grows automatically as new posts are published.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Some of our community training programmes are provided free of charge through funding and partnerships. Bespoke training for organisations may have an associated cost.
Not always. We welcome community leaders, professionals, parents with lived experience, etc to support our community campaigns.
Our approach is built around four principles:-
LISTEN – We start with the lived experiences and priorities of communities.
UNDERSTAND – We recognise the influence of culture, identity, faith, racism, migration, family and wider inequalities on mental wellbeing.
CONNECT – We help bridge the gap between communities, professionals and services.
ACT – We use community insight, research and partnership to develop practical interventions and advocate for more responsive services.
For us, culturally responsive mental health support is not about making assumptions about communities. It is about listening, understanding context, building trust and working with people to develop solutions that make sense for their lives.
Communities who complete the required Mental health Awareness Programmes will receive a certificate.
Some sessions may be delivered online, while others are delivered in person.
Yes. We can discuss a tailored programme based on the needs of your organisation and participants.
Limited one-to-one support may be available depending on staff, volunteer capacity and funding.
You do not have to wait until things reach crisis point before asking for help.
Explore our mental health information and trusted external resources to understand the support available to you, your child or someone you care about. You can Call us, Email us, View our resources or meet us at one of the community events.
Meet the team
The people behind the training
Every figure below comes straight from the programme itself — nothing more, nothing invented.
Dr Terrence Isaacs
Mental Health Lead Afrikindness
Winnie Ebunobi
Mental Health Trainer & Advocate
Modestus Okonkwo
Research Team Lead Afrikindness
Take your next step
Whoever you are, we'll meet you where you're at.
This programme is backed by real funders who believe in it — proof this isn’t just a good idea, it’s a resourced, growing commitment to Leeds’ communities.
