A successful series of talks across the country targeting Sudanese communities have taken place recently in a bid to increase awareness about mental health support available.

BSMHFT’s Dr Mahmoud Saeed, Consultant in Old Age Psychiatry along with Dr Tarig Salah and Dr Hala Abdalla from the Sudanese Psychiatrist Association (UK), in collaboration with the Sudan Doctors Union (UK) and Sudanese communities, have held a series of talks to the local Sudanese communities in Birmingham, Liverpool and Oxford over the last few weeks.

It is estimated that there are approximately 10,000 Sudanese people living in Birmingham, many of whom are unaware of the mental health support available to them.

During the sessions, Dr Saeed, Dr Salah and Dr Abdalla, who also with the Sudanese Psychiatrist Association (UK), discussed the psychological effect that the war in Sudan may have on Sudanese people. They also helped to dispel myths about mental illnesses, discussed common mental health symptoms and explained where to access mental health services if they needed it.

Dr Saeed, Consultant in Old Age Psychiatry shared:

“It was satisfying and fulfilling to be able to increase awareness and challenge misconceptions of mental illnesses to my fellow home country men and women. Our overall aim is to fight the stigma of mental illnesses and to encourage people to seek help if they have been affected by the war in Sudan.”

The meetings were well attended and generated good discussions with over 100 people joining the event held at the Al Amanah Mosque on the Stradford Road.

After high demand for more talk to be held, group is planning to continue talking to Sudanese communities in other cities in the UK and Egypt in the New Year.