Title: COVID BAME highlight: A collaborative approach to understand and remediate the impact of COVID19 on mental health in BAME communities: A pilot study
Funder: Economic and Social Research Council

Abstract: This proposal will answer two timely research questions among adults of black ethnicity: (1) "Which mental health difficulties do people experience and how do they find access to clinical services?" (2) "How do carers of children/young adults with mental health difficulties find an online skill-based training to improve psychological wellbeing?". The proposal is timely for the following reasons: -The COVID19 Pandemic has exacerbated pre-existing social inequalities and therefore it is imperative to (A) understand why this happened and (B) address the needs of those who are most in need, such as BAME communities. -The COVID19 Pandemic has challenged the way in which clinical services are offered and delivered (i.e. mostly face-to-face) and therefore it is essential that online, digital solutions are exploited to revolutionise the way in which clinical care is offered. This is particularly relevent for individuals from BAME backgrounds, who suffer from high levels of stigma, discrimination and racial trauma which contribute to poor access to the right care and poorer experience of care. -The COVID19 Pandemic has meant that children and young adults' mental health needs are mostly delegated to carers and therefore it is crucial that carers have the know-how to deal with mental health difficulties in their children.

Lay abstract: The COVID19 Pandemic has exacerbated societal differences, with its greatest negative impact on vulnerable groups, including people from a BAME background. Among other challenges, this population, and especially children and young adults, experiences mental health difficulties to a greater degree than people from white background and faces significant difficulties in accessing mental health services. This project will use a collaborative approach that will involve members of BAME communities, including people with mental health difficulties, mental health professionals and members of charities. The project aims are: (1) to better understand the impact of COVID-19 on mental health and service access in families of children/young adults from BAME backgrounds using qualitative methods, and (2) to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of an online carers' skill-based training to improve mental health wellbeing in families from BAME backgrounds. It is acknowledged that there is great heterogeneity among BAME communities and therefore this pilot study will focus on adults of black ethnicity, with the longer-term goal of replicating findings in other ethnic minority groups. The output of aim 1 will be improved knowledge about the effects of COVID19 on mental health among adults of black ethnicity. The output of aim 2 will be the understanding of how an online carers' skill-based training could be adapted to the needs of this population to promote mental health wellbeing in families.

Research activity codes: 7.1 INDIVIDUAL CARE NEEDS;8.1 ORGANISATION AND DELIVERY OF SERVICES
Health categories: MENTAL HEALTH;INFECTION