Race and Mental Health: are black communities getting a fair deal? Public Meeting April 19th

From Brent Patient Voice and Brent MIND

For the first time since our launch in February last year Brent Patient Voice is holding a face to face meeting in public. This email is a warm invitation to colleagues who have not so far joined us as members to take part in the discussion of an important local health topic. We will also be holding our first AGM.

We are delighted to say that Brent MIND has agreed to partner us in this event which will be, as before, at the Learie Constantine Centre, 40-47 Dudden Hill Lane, NW10 2ET from 7-9pm on Tuesday 19th April.

The main speaker will be Dr Aggrey Burke, formerly Senior Lecturer and Consultant Psychiatrist at St George's Hospital London. His title will be "Race and Mental Health: are black communities getting a fair deal?" He has amplified this title further with the words: "The interaction of stigma, racial exclusion, mental illness and offender behaviour". Dr Burke has also asked us to mention that he is now involved in voluntary activities in London and the Midlands. We imagine that his presentation may be somewhat controversial, but we are convinced that this is an important topic within the community of Brent.

We hope that Brent MIND colleagues will speak briefly about their work in general and in this specific area of concern.

The main meeting will be followed by the first AGM of Brent Patient Voice at around 8.30pm. We will present reports of what we have been up to and seek democratic legitimacy by holding elections. In particular we need members to join our steering group to help with communications, the website and membership matters. More details will follow on the AGM. Do let me know if you are interested in joining our group or just go to "membership" on our website.   http://www.bpv.org.uk/membership/

As you know we are a very small voluntary body doing our best to work constructively with the local NHS on behalf of patients. PLEASE DO JOIN US IF YOU CAN ON THE 19TH TO ENSURE THAT BPV'S PRIORITIES ARE THOSE OF ITS MEMBERS AND THE PUBLIC.

To help cater for the event please email your intention to attend:  mailto :info@bpv.org.uk

Greens condemn disproportionate use of tasers on black people

Green Party deputy leader Shahrar Ali has called on Home Secretary Theresa May to review the use of tasers and investigate why they are being used so often, after Home Office data showed black people were three times more likely than white people to have the weapons used against them.

Ali said:

These figures show that institutional racism is alive and well in our police force. The disproportionate use of stop and search powers against black people is worrying enough. Tasers are dangerous weapons, and their continued use, even in extreme circumstances, must be subject to review.

The public have a right to a wider debate on the deployment of tasers on UK streets and the Home Secretary must urgently look into why tasers are being used so often