Here is a list of questions that we are frequently asked. If you have any questions that you would like us to answer please let us know by contacting us
DRE
- Q. What is DRE?
- A. Delivering Race Equality in Mental Health Care is the Department of Health's five-year action plan for improving mental health services for Black and minority ethnic communities. It is based on three main building blocks: better, more culturally appropriate services; involving BME communities in planning and providing care; and better understanding the issues by using information and evidence. You can read more about DRE at www.dh.gov.uk/bmementalhealth
- Q. How is DRE making a difference?
- A. There is a huge amount of work going on to make DRE happen, finding ways that services can improve and sharing them more widely. For example, Community Development Workers (CDWs) were one of the ideas in DRE and there are now hundreds in post, with many more to come. DRE has also helped to raise the profile of mental health issues higher than ever before. To hear about how DRE has affected individuals visit the case studies section.
- Q. What happens when DRE comes to an end?
- A. Equality in mental health care doesn't have a time limit - services will continue to improve and build on what they learn from DRE.
- Q. What is a Community Development Worker (CDW)?
- A. CDWs are new workers whose job it is to build bridges between local mental health services and the BME communities they serve, and help communities to have more say in the sort of service they get.
- Q. What is a FIS?
- A. There are 18 Focused Implementation Sites (FIS) for DRE - areas where special attention is paid to finding ways of making services better so that the rest of the country can learn from them. FISs have had some extra money and support.
CDWs
- Q. What resources are available to help me do my job?
- A. There is a lot of helpful guidance on things like the CDWs' role and the training that they might need - follow the links at www.dh.gov.uk/bmementalhealth
- Q. How can I share best practice?
- A. The new DRE Network website features a Notice Board, designed to enable CDWs to share information with each other. If you have anything that you would like to put on the Notice Board then please contact us
- Q. Are DRE materials available in different languages?
- A. A summary of DRE is available in English, Hindi, Bengali, Gujarati, Punjabi and Urdu. For free copies e-mail dh@prolog.uk.com
- Q. How can I get help with media work?
- A. If your organisation has communications or media staff, talk to them. There is also information on running media activity on the 'How To' pages of this website.
Mental health
For all questions relating to mental health eg. How is mental health is defined? What are the early signs? Who should I contact for advice? Please visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk or www.mind.org.uk