Welcome to Acacia's dedicated section for mums and dads who are people of colour and/or from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds. Here we have tried to pull together some resources for BAME families and professionals who are looking for help with perinatal mental health problems and Coronavirus information in various languages.
It is important to say at the outset that we are aware that grouping people of colour together with terms such as BAME can sometimes give the impression that we are lumping large numbers of people together as a single entity. This is absolutely not true. We use this acronym for convenience but recognise that 8.1 million people in the UK, or 13% of the population, are currently defined by this term and there is a real risk that the humanity, the complexity, the experiences and identities of people get swallowed up in a four letter acronym. We recognise that different families/communities/cultures are made up of individuals whom we must fully engage with in an open and person centred way rather than ascribing pre-conceived ideas due to racial/cultural grouping.
At Acacia we understand that different cultures have many different beliefs and practices. We are devoted to seeking to understand these, and responding by maintaining a person centred and flexible approach to care. This is vitally important to ensure that all people of colour who are struggling with a new baby receive proper and timely support. Acacia is committed to breaking down and reducing the barriers which exist in our own services and in the wider perinatal mental health sector.
Please click on the buttons below to find cultural and/or language specific video's, links, information and free downloadable stuff to help you