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Community Messenger - Transforming how we talk about mental health
A structured training programme for women with lived mental health experiences - equipping them to lead, express and transform the way our community views mental health from a cultural and religious perspective, especially post-Covid and amid the current cost of living crisis.
ABOUT THIS PROGRAMME
Training women to become community mental health messengers.
Through this programme, women with lived experience of mental health challenges gain knowledge, confidence and practical skills - becoming advocates who help shift the conversation around mental health in their communities. Here's what participants learn:
Mental health awareness – developing understanding of issues impacting culturally diverse communities, including post-natal depression, menopause, Ramadan and fasting.
Family impact – learning about a mother’s mental health and the impact it can have on children and families.
Practical skills training – acquiring skills through basic safeguarding, First Aid, Mental Health First Aider and basic coaching skills.
Defining mental health – developing the ability to discuss and explain what mental health is confidently and accessibly within the community.
Culture, religion and mental health – gaining understanding around how culture, religion and practices influence the community’s relationship with mental health.
Services and referrals – developing knowledge of support services, referral pathways, access routes and barriers to getting help.
PROGRAMME SCHEDULE
3 x 8-week programmes, delivered annually.
Sessions are delivered in groups at the Bangladeshi Centre.
Each cohort of community messengers completes a structured
8-week journey before putting their learning into practice.
3 programmes per year
Each programme runs for 8 weeks
Bangladeshi Centre
Sessions delivered in groups on-site
Women with lived experience
Open to women aged 18+
WHAT MESSENGERS DO
Plan & deliver 3 community workshops
Each cohort plans and delivers 3 workshops to display and share their learning, and celebrate their achievements with the community.
Raise awareness in community groups
Target community groups to raise awareness and share positive messages about mental health from a culturally informed perspective.
Each messenger invites 10 people
Every community messenger is encouraged to invite 10 people from their network to attend the programme workshops.
How to register
Self-referral via the Shantona website – get support
Agency referrals via the shantona website – agency referral
For agency referrals you will need to contact Shantona for a username and password to access the system.
Contact details for more info
Name: Shafia B Ali
Contact Number: 0113 249 7120 | 0795 044 8417
Email Address: shafia@shantona.co.uk
