BMH:UK: Gospel Explosion put the focus on the forgotten over Christmas
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Monday, 10, Dec 2007 12:00
A gospel explosion to remember the thousands of people from the community who will be locked up on psychiatric wards up and down the country over Christmas will be held on Tuesday 18th December 2007 from 7.00-9.00pm.
Black Mental Health UK (BMH UK) has secured the backing of gospel artists who have given up their time and talent to support BMH UK’s work in raising awareness about the routine human rights violations of psychiatric patients that all to often go unnoticed especially at this time of year. .
Artists for the evening include:
• John Fisher & IDMC London Urban Gospel Choir - one of the UK's top Gospel Choirs.
• Adelade MacKenzie winner of the 'Nina Simone' Award by the Black Women in Arts Foundation 2007.
• Muyiwa Olarewaju - Worship Leader & Premier Radio's ‘Gospel Tonight’ presenter.
As well as worshippers, church, community leaders and health experts have also come out in support of this event and will be speaking on what the community can do to effect a change:
Speakers include:
• Lee Jasper – chair - African Caribbean Mental Health Commission
• Professor Suman Fernando - consultant psychiatrist - National BME Mental Health Network
• Pastor Ade Omooba - co-founder of Christian Concern For Our Nation
• Matilda MacAttram - director Black Mental Health UK
This event, which is free to the general public, is entitled: Jesus – The real reason for the season. It will be held on Tuesday 18th December 2006 from 7.00 – 9.00pm, in committee room 3- 4, The Mayor’s Suite, Kensington Town Hall, Civic Entrance, Hornton Street, London W8 7NX. Nearest Tube: High Street Kensington (3 minute walk).
This year saw the passing of a 2007 Mental Health Act which will have far reaching consequences for the Black community. Concerns have been raised as to it’s likely impact after a new report has revealed that there has been a death of a patient in psychiatric care every day this year .
‘We do not want this issue to be ignored or those locked up in on psychiatric wards to be forgotten. Of all times of the year Christmas can be the most isolating and painful and it shouldn’t be. We want anyone interested in this issue to come down and enjoy this celebration and also learn about what can be done at a local level to address the isolation and stigma.
Detention rates within the community are so high that we know that almost every black family within the UK is affected by this.
Music can be uplifting and gospel music is especially so – what a wonderful gift it would be if what we are doing on December 18th could also be brought into psychiatric hospitals this Christmas. Of all places it is needed there the most.’ Matilda MacAttram Director of Black Mental Health UK said.
For interviews please contact M: 07852 182 750
Notes to the editor
Black Mental Health UK is a human rights campaigns group established to address the over representation of African Caribbean’s within secure psychiatric care and raise awareness to address the stigma associated with mental health.
African Caribbean’s are 44% more likely to be sectioned, 29% more likely to be forcibly restrained, 50% more likely to be placed in seclusion and make up 30% of in patients on medium secure psychiatric wards despite having similar rates of mental illness as British white people.
The Forum for Preventing Deaths in Custody report was published in September 2007. http://www.preventingcustodydeaths.org.uk/
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