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Identifying the Black Country’s top mental health research priorities using a collaborative workshop approach : community connexions
Morrissey, Hana Benoit, Céline Ball, Patrick A. Ackom-Mensah, Hannah
Morrissey, Hana
Benoit, Céline
Ball, Patrick A.
Ackom-Mensah, Hannah
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Affiliation
Consultant Pharmacist, Perth, WA, Australia;
School of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Nottingham, UK; Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, UK; School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga, NSW, Australia; Underserved Populations Community Development & Community Connexions, Black Country Healthcare
NHS Foundation Trust (BCHFT), Research and Innovation, Dudley, UK;
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Publication date
2024-12
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Abstract
Background: The Black Country (BC) is an area of the United Kingdom covering Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall, and Wolverhampton. The area is ethnically, culturally and religiously diverse. One-fifth of the total population is in the lowest socioeconomic quintile, with an uneven distribution of wealth. The area manifests unmet needs and as perceived underserved community groups. Objectives and Methods: To better understand the situation and inform future provision, listening events were organised across the BC to engage with local underserved communities. A mixed-methods design was employed, using collaborative workshops. The workshops enabled stakeholders to explore priorities, perceived barriers and solutions to mental health services’ access within the BC. Results: Sixty participants verbally consented and signed in to attend the three workshops. There were nine groups that provided 247 statements on the topic, yielding a total of 12 codes and six themes (priorities). The top identified priorities were inappropriate periodisation of accessible funded healthcare needs (n = 42, 18.03%), barriers to appropriate healthcare (n = 49, 21.03%) and limited resources for training, health promotion, preventative care and support networks (n = 62, 26.61%). Conclusions: Addressing the identified priorities will require location and community-specific solutions to establish those communities’ trust and engagement. Cultural stigma should not be viewed as the only barrier to access healthcare but should be considered in combination with the population’s reluctance to reach out to healthcare services due to loss of trust between community groups and lack of co-design of culturally and religiously appropriate services for the community.
Citation
Morrissey, H.; Benoit, C.; Ball, P.A.; Ackom-Mensah, H. Identifying the Black Country’s Top Mental Health Research Priorities Using a Collaborative Workshop Approach: Community Connexions. Healthcare 2024, 12, 2506. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12242506
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Article