Mixed Experiences: Growing Up Mixed Race – Mental Health and Well-being

Dinah Morley · Cathy Street

feb 2014 · Jessica Kingsley Publishers

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Mixed race is the fastest growing population group of children and young people in England and Wales. It is also over represented in a number of categories of deprivation, so it is vital that public services working with children of mixed race understand the concerns and develop approaches to working that promote access and are sensitive to needs. The mixed race group’s diversity does not allow for a one-size-fits-all assessment of needs, and this is the challenge for practitioners. To develop support that is appropriate, relevant and robust, professionals working with children and young people of mixed race need to be aware of the particular risks to mental health/emotional well-being that may be present in the lives of these young people. This guide offers practitioners an insight into the experiences of racism, discrimination and identity confusion that mixed race children and young people encounter. It discusses the policy context for promoting equality and challenging discrimination, and considers the learning from projects and local services that have targeted mixed race children, young people and families. It will be of value to all practitioners working with children and young people, especially those in the mental health field, and also in health more generally, early years services, social care, education, youth justice and the voluntary sector.

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Dinah Morley has worked in teaching, mental health, social services and with YoungMinds. She is currently a senior honorary lecturer at City University and an honorary researcher in the unit for Social and Community Psychiatry attached to the East London Foundation Trust. She is involved with several initiatives around children's mental health. Cathy Street works as a health researcher, consultant and trainer. She was Head of Research and a Lead Consultant at YoungMinds between 2008-2012. During this time she led health projects for the London Development Centre, Youth Access and a number of national charities. She has considerable experience of working with health service users and has established a reputation for promoting children and young people's participation in health services.