Black History Month - CaFI | R&I News

Black History Month - CaFI

Black African-Caribbean’s Experiences of Mental Health Services

Family Intervention (FI) is a psychological therapy or ‘talking treatment’ that can play a crucial role in creating positive outcomes for service users diagnosed with schizophrenia and other psychoses. NICE (Ref) recommends FI for service users in regular contact with their families. However, FI is rarely offered in services. When offered, people from Sub-Saharan African, Caribbean, and other ethnic minority communities are less likely to receive FI – especially if they do not have families in the UK. This is important because rates of schizophrenia diagnosis are around 6-9 times higher amongst African and Caribbean heritage people compared with White British counterparts. Furthermore, their care pathways are more adverse, including more police involvement and use of the Mental Health Act. These negative experiences have caused African and Caribbean people to fear and mistrust mental health services; delaying access to care, which is rarely culturally informed.

 

The CaFI study

Culturally-adapted Family Intervention (CaFI) is a talking therapy, co-created with service users, family and community members, and healthcare professionals. CaFI was successfully piloted in GMMH with service uses from Caribbean backgrounds. The research team, led by Professor Dawn Edge, have been awarded further funding to compare CaFI with ‘usual care’ with African and Caribbean families affected by psychosis. The study involves 404 family units (202 CaFI; 202 ‘usual care’) in the Northwest, Midlands, London, and Southwest of England. Importantly, service users without access to their own families can receive CaFI with Family Support Members (FSMs). We have also created CaFI:Digital - a bespoke online platform, giving people the choice to participate remotely.

CaFI

Get Involved

There are several ways to get involved in the CaFI study, including as service users, family members/carers, community members, healthcare professionals, peer support workers, students, and academics. To get involved, simply contact the research team by emailing: cafi@gmmh.nhs.uk, visit our website: https://sites.manchester.ac.uk/cafi/ or follow us on Twitter: @cafistudy

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As a patient

As a service user, relative or carer using our services, sometimes you may need to turn to someone for help, advice, and support. 

Find resources for carers and service users  Contact the Trust

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