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25 Feb 2021
by Farimah Darbyshire

Organisations urged to focus on employee mental health to address racial disparity

Over the last year, we have seen an outpouring of support from the business world and heard welcome commitments to action to address racial disparity. At the City Mental Health Alliance (CMHA), we believe that these commitments to action must include supporting the positive mental health of people who are Black or from a Minority Ethnic background, which is why we have created the CMHA Mental Health and Race Toolkit.

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Data tells us that people who are Black or from a Minority Ethnic background are living with a higher incidence of poor mental health than white people. This is unsurprising given that data also shows they have been disproportionately impacted by inequality and racism, often since childhood. 2020 has shone an even brighter light on the intersectionality between mental health and race, as people in these communities have dealt with triggering conversations because of the death of George Floyd. They have also been disproportionately impacted by Covid-19, through higher death rates, health anxiety and financial distress. It therefore follows that supporting the positive mental health of people who are Black or from a Minority Ethnic background is a key pillar of addressing racial disparity.

Businesses have an opportunity to play a role by creating supportive and psychologically safe workplace cultures for their people from these backgrounds. Progressive businesses also know that building a more diverse organisation is not just about increasing numbers, but is also about creating an inclusive and supportive culture, which prioritises positive wellbeing. Achieving diversity and inclusion (D&I) objectives will rely on whether people from Black and from Minority Ethnic backgrounds feel like they belong to company culture and feel supported to thrive.

Our Mental Health and Race Toolkit is designed to help organisations deliver this cultural change. The CMHA membership model brings together Board level executives, along with HR, wellbeing and D&I professionals from our members, to share knowledge and find solutions to the most pressing workplace mental health challenges. Together we have pooled knowledge and experience to create this Toolkit. It lays out four strategic actions that businesses should take to build a supportive environment for people who are Black or from a Minority Ethnic background. These actions, which are underpinned by practical examples of good practice from across our membership, are:

1. Challenge all forms of racism in the workplace

It is not possible to build a psychologically safe environment if people experience, witness or anticipate racism. Practical suggestions for challenging racism include providing training to employees, guidance on language, introducing allyship programmes and embedding zero racism policies.

2. Design inclusive and representative mental health and wellbeing support

Given the different pressures on the different communities within your organisation, it is not appropriate to take a “one size fits all” approach to mental health support. We recommend consulting with colleagues who are Black or from a Minority Ethnic background in the design of wellbeing benefits and support to ensure that it addresses their needs e.g. asking whether the employee assistance programme (EAP) service support works for them.

3. Measure and report on progress

Collection of data is key for guiding future thinking. Collect usage of services, such as EAP, to understand how colleagues who are Black or from Minority Ethnic backgrounds perceive and interact with benefits. When possible, disaggregate data by ethnic group, to understand specific requirements.

4. Allocate Board level responsibility

Sustained change in workplace culture requires leaders to drive and own this change. We recommend appointing a Board-level sponsor to advocate and be accountable for driving the change which ensures the positive mental health of people who are Black or from Minority Ethnic backgrounds.

I hope this Toolkit supports businesses to take practical steps to protect, support and create positive mental health for colleagues who are Black or from a Minority Ethnic background so that they, and your organisation, can thrive. There’s never been a better opportunity, or a more important time, to act.   

The author is Farimah Darbyshire of City Mental Health Alliance (CMHA).