Post date: Feb 03, 2020 3:13:59 PM
At their November 2018 meeting the Council of Faiths received a presentation from Vicky Hancock (VH) and Nav Ranautta (NR) (Deputy Director and Clinical Effectiveness Lead, respectively, of MK Mental Health Services) on mental health provision in Milton Keynes.
VH had only recently arrived in Milton Keynes but had worked in mental health for about 23 years, and is passionate about disseminating information on mental health so that everyone can live a healthy life. She said that the Mental Health Unit can’t work on its own, and needs to work with people in the community.
Mental Health services in Milton Keynes has been run by the Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust since 2013. VH said that amongst the advantages of working within a large organisation are the access to national services such as dealing with addiction to gambling and legal highs. The Unit in MK covers HMP Woodhill and the Immigration Centres. The clientele in MK encompasses a number of cultures and languages, and both affluent and poverty-stricken areas.
BAME groups tend to engage less with treatment for mental health, largely due to a feeling of taboo towards poor mental health amongst such communities.
As to how the Council of Faiths could help the Mental Health Unit, VH would appreciate any information on how much knowledge the various faith groups had on the subject, and what information they needed. She also said that any advice on how the Mental Health Unit could approach the various faith groups, would be valued.
A question on continuity of services as a result of staff changes, was raised. VH said that whilst doctors would be regularly moved, on account of the training regime, nursing staff were generally permanently-based.
Notes to supplement handout
PTSD is higher in women of black ethnic origin due to uprooting from their place of origin, and increased incidence of sexual assault which they suffer.
There are over 48 different African communities in Milton Keynes, with French widely-spoken amongst many of them.
Black Africans often access mental health services late; in many cases this is after Police involvement.
A Mental Health Specialist is attached to the Police from 3:00 p.m. to midnight each day, to deal with cases the Police come across.