Roma Refugee & Migrant Mental Health Advocacy Project

The project will employ a project co-ordinator and two bilingual mental health advocates to provide one-to-one advocacy to empower Roma who already use, or have expressed an interest in using, mental health services.

To ensure the most effective advocacy service possible they will appoint staff who reflect the cultural background/ethnicity/language of beneficiaries and who understand the experiences of disadvantage and social exclusion of Roma with poor mental health.

Successful access to culturally appropriate mental health services will be achieved by:

• offering information on available services and choices
• supporting individuals to recognise their mental health needs
• working towards a goal where beneficiaries are empowered to speak for themselves
• working with health professionals to increase knowledge of Roma culture
• highlighting where this can inform with 'standard' policy and practice.