Black Storytelling, Real Healing: Inside Think Tenacity’s Mental Health Awareness Week Event

By Matthew McKenzie, carer activist
Date: May 24, 2025

In an evening charged with truth, courage, and community spirit, Think Tenacity Academy CIC hosted one of the most impactful events of Mental Health Awareness Week 2025. Held at Think Tenacity HQ in Vauxhall and themed #BlackStorytellingCommunity, the gathering was more than a panel or workshop, it was a safe space for healing through shared experience.

The event was led by Bella Rareworld, Think Tenacity’s CEO and a mental health advocate living with bipolar disorder, the event was built on a legacy of ancestral wisdom: “Before slavery, social media, or podcasts, we passed on strength and knowledge through storytelling,” she reminded the audience. “Tonight, we reclaim that legacy not just to speak, but to heal, empower, and connect.”

Bella continued to remind the audience of the ancestral power of storytelling, a tool of resistance and resilience long before the digital age. “This night isn’t just about talking,” she said. “It’s about healing — together.”

Powered by Partnership: Bipolar UK & Healthwatch

This event would not have been possible without the generous sponsorship of Bipolar UK, the leading national charity supporting individuals affected by bipolar disorder. As Bella shared her own journey with bipolar, she emphasized how underrepresented and misunderstood the condition remains in the Black community.

Bipolar UK provided funding and vital resources, including educational materials, article reprints, and therapy referrals. Their presence sparked critical dialogue on how bipolar presents, how it’s treated, and why culturally specific support is essential.

Also supporting the event were Healthwatch Lambeth and Healthwatch Southwark, independent champions for people using health and social care services. Their reports on disparities in mental health care for Black and brown communities were included in the event’s goodie bags. These organizations continue to advocate for system-wide improvements and were recognized on the night for helping amplify marginalized voices.

Speakers like Ryan Taylor-Hounds tackled tough topics like gambling harms in Black communities, while Shanai and Adama Bah delivered emotional stories of loss, trauma, and personal rebirth. From anxiety and breakups to surviving FGM and building nonprofit organizations, each speaker lit a spark in the room.

Voices That Moved the Room

One by one, community members and advocates shared personal stories that were raw, brave, and transformative.

  • Ryan Taylor-Hounds, project lead for Breaking the Circle, tackled the silent epidemic of gambling harms in Black communities. “We don’t talk about money or addiction enough. And until we do, the stigma wins,” he said, likening his work to “firefighting in the lives of young people.”
  • Shanai, a meditation and breathwork practitioner, shared how the loss of her father became the turning point for her mental health journey. “That grief shattered everything. But it also showed me what truly matters, living authentically and helping others find tools for healing.”
  • Adama Nyama Bah, a survivor of FGM and sexual violence, delivered one of the most powerful testimonies of the night. Her spoken-word poem on trauma and rebuilding the self, titled “A Journey Through Trauma Ashes,” left the room breathless and inspired.

Each story was a reminder that silence is not strength — voice is.

Community + Care: A Panel of Black Mental Health Experts

Think Tenacity brought together a Q&A panel of Black mental health professionals, including therapists, nurses, and counselors, to discuss access, stigma, and support.

  • Mariah Wilde, CBT and psychodynamic therapist, explained how therapy isn’t one-size-fits-all. “CBT works for some, but not everyone. Black clients often feel unseen in systems built without us in mind.”
  • Sasha McBean of Healing Hands Counselling emphasized the importance of culturally sensitive treatment: “It’s not just about diagnosis — it’s about understanding the world our clients come from.”

Conversations also addressed financial barriers, over-medication in the NHS, and the need for greater representation in therapeutic spaces.

The event wasn’t just about words it was a whole-body experience of support and advocacy, brought to life through thoughtfully curated stalls and wellness resources.

📌 Women’s Health Advocacy Network (WHAN)
One of the visual anchors of the event was WHAN’s tall, empowering green-and-white banner. WHAN (Charity No. 1189861) focuses on improving women’s health outcomes, advocating for gender-specific health access, particularly for survivors of gender-based violence and reproductive trauma. Their presence amplified the message: Black women’s health deserves full recognition and support.

📌 Think Tenacity Wellness Hub Display
As seen in the bold yellow Think Tenacity banner, attendees could scan QR codes, follow social channels, and plug into a growing online community of mental wellness. The table nearby was stocked with self-care tools from pens and booklets to therapy flyers, including free mental health session offers for attendees.

📌 Children’s Mental Health Resources
The table covered in pastel-coloured books including Understanding My Emotions and Mental Health Workbook for Kids by Tara Knowles offered guidance for younger minds. It showed the holistic approach Think Tenacity embraces: mental health starts young, and resources must reflect that.

📌 Women’s Wellbeing Day Flyers
Among the eye-catching purple-draped table was an invitation to the upcoming Women’s Wellbeing Day on June 14th. This event promises everything from yoga and massage therapy to trauma healing and community workshops — an extension of the night’s mission to keep the conversation going year-round.

📌 Breaking the Cycle: Gambling Awareness Table
Purple pamphlets and discussion prompts addressed gambling harms — a key topic discussed by speaker Ryan. Interactive props invited guests to reflect: “What is your experience with gambling?” — bridging education and reflection.

📌 LoveBiome & PhytoPower Wellness Booth
A nutritional wellness corner provided samples and brochures from LoveBiome, showcasing gut-health supplements like PhytoPower. This inclusion reminded attendees of the mind-body connection gut health, nutrition, and mental health are deeply intertwined.

Why It Matters: Breaking the Silence on Bipolar & Beyond

The event also focused on the often-misunderstood diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Bella, who lives with bipolar, shared how stigma and misdiagnosis nearly cost her her life. “We are over-represented in hospital detentions and under-represented in support groups,” she said. That’s why Making Time for Black Mental Health, the non-profit she founded, provides free access to Black therapists.

Audience members echoed the importance of grassroots change: more representation on social media, more funding for Black-led services, and deeper NHS accountability. One attendee summed it up best: “I’m tired of proving my pain. I want to be seen and understood.”

From Talk to Action

Beyond storytelling, the night offered tools. Every attendee received a self-care goodie bag, a directory of Black therapists, and a 30-minute therapy voucher. Think Tenacity also issued a call for volunteers to help keep the movement growing from admin and fundraising to social media and outreach.

A Shared Future

The room ended in applause not just for the speakers, but for the community that came together, listened deeply, and said: “Me too.”

Join the Movement

Bella ended the evening with a call for volunteers to join Think Tenacity’s ongoing work from admin help and social media to fundraising and youth engagement. “Everyone has a skill, and every hand helps,” she said.

📢 Follow and Support

📌 Event Partners

  • Sponsored by: Bipolar UK
  • Supported by: Healthwatch Lambeth & Healthwatch Southwark

🗓️ Next Event:
Women’s Wellbeing Day
📍 June 14, 2025 – Albrighton Centre, SE22 8AH