As I continue developing my poetry collection Unpaid, Unseen and Yet Unbroken: Poetry about Ethnic Mental Health Carers, I wanted to share another poem from the collection called Fear Has Roots.
The poem explores something I feel mental health services need to understand more deeply: mistrust does not always begin with the person standing in front of you.
Sometimes it has a history.
A carer may have experienced years of being dismissed, misunderstood or having their concerns minimised. They may have watched other carers from their community struggle to be heard. Experiences of discrimination can also travel through families and communities, influencing how safe people feel when approaching services.
Fear Has Roots explores what happens when those experiences begin to change the way a carer communicates.
The carer starts choosing their words carefully. They worry about appearing angry. They fear being labelled “difficult” or “aggressive”. Even when trying to advocate for someone they love, they may feel that one wrong word could change how professionals see them.
One section of the poem says:
For me, this is particularly important when thinking about ethnic minority carers and the Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework (PCREF).
If services want to build trust with communities, it is not enough simply to ask why somebody mistrusts the system. We also need to ask what happened before that mistrust developed.
Listening to what sits behind the fear
The poem is not anti-professional. In fact, its opening line deliberately makes that clear:
“Fear has roots, I am not anti-professional.”
Instead, it asks professionals and services to become curious about the experiences behind a carer’s behaviour.
Repeated dismissal can wear somebody down. Discrimination can leave lasting memories. Feeling judged when advocating for a loved one can make a carer more cautious the next time they enter a meeting, ward or assessment.
This is why culturally responsive carer involvement matters.
We should not only hear what carers are saying. We should also understand the history, culture and experiences that may sit behind their words.
Fear has roots.
Mistrust has a history.
And perhaps listening is one of the places where rebuilding trust can begin.
Fear Has Roots is part of my developing poetry collection Unpaid, Unseen and Yet Unbroken, which explores race, culture, identity, inequality, resilience and the experiences of ethnic minority unpaid mental health carers.
To mark World Alzheimer’s Day, I have produced a new A Caring Mind video focusing on the unpaid carers supporting relatives and friends living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
Alzheimer’s is a progressive neurological disease rather than a mental illness. However, its emotional and psychological impact can be profound—not only for the person diagnosed, but also for those caring beside them.
The video explores the importance of earlier diagnosis, including carers in decisions, recognising anticipatory grief and connecting families with appropriate support. It also highlights organisations such as Alzheimer’s Society, Dementia UK, Carers UK and Carers Trust.
Carers may manage appointments, medication, personal care, changing behaviour and difficult decisions, often without enough information or support for their own wellbeing.
World Alzheimer’s Day gives us an opportunity to challenge stigma, listen to people affected by dementia and recognise the contribution of unpaid carers.
Neither the person living with dementia nor the carer walking beside them should be forgotten.
Think Tenacity Academy CIC is hosting another important Making Time for Black Mental Health event in London.
The free racial trauma seminar will take place on:
Wednesday 23 September 2026 3:00 pm–9:00 pm Cottons Shoreditch, 321 Old Street, London EC1V 9LE
The event will provide a culturally informed space to explore racial trauma, mental health and wellbeing within Black communities. It will also create opportunities for people with lived experience, carers, professionals and community organisations to connect and learn from one another.
I attended a previous Making Time for Black Mental Health event and saw how valuable these community-led spaces can be. They enable conversations about race and mental health to take place in an environment where people feel understood, represented and supported.
As a lived experience Black mental health carer and advocate, I know that racial trauma can affect not only individuals but also families and unpaid carers. We need more culturally responsive spaces that recognise these experiences and make it easier to discuss mental health without fear, judgement or stigma.
The event is free to attend, but capacity is limited to approximately 45 places, so early booking is strongly recommended.
A related Racial Trauma Group Support event is also advertised for Thursday 1 October in Notting Hill.
Healthwatch Lambeth is inviting patients and unpaid carers to share their experiences of leaving hospital.
The survey is part of a nationwide Healthwatch England project examining hospital discharge. Healthwatch Lambeth is particularly seeking responses from people living in Lambeth who have experienced a difficult hospital discharge within the past 12 months.
This may include situations where:
Discharge was delayed.
The patient was sent home before they felt ready.
Information about the discharge was unclear or incomplete.
Essential equipment or support was not available.
Follow-up care had not been properly arranged.
An unpaid carer was not sufficiently involved, informed or prepared.
The survey can be completed by patients themselves or by an unpaid carer describing the experience of someone they care for.
Healthwatch Lambeth is especially interested in hearing from people whose experiences may not always be represented in health and care feedback, including men and people from ethnic minority communities.
Hospital discharge can place significant responsibility on families and unpaid carers. When carers are not recognised, involved or given the right information, they may suddenly find themselves managing medication, personal care, appointments and recovery without adequate preparation.
Sharing these experiences can help identify what needs to improve and highlight the importance of involving carers as genuine partners throughout discharge planning.
Please share this survey with Lambeth residents, patients and unpaid carers who may have had a difficult hospital discharge experience during the past year.
The Ealing Carers Online Poetry Group returned in August for another warm and creative evening of poetry, reflection and peer support. Delivered with the support of Ealing Carers Partnership, the group has now been running for two years and continues to provide carers with a welcoming space in which they can express themselves, meet others and take some valuable time away from the pressures of their caring roles.
Carers joined the session for different reasons. Some wanted inspiration to write, while others valued the opportunity to relax, listen and spend time with people who understood the realities of caring. One member described how they often begin an exercise believing they will not be able to write anything, only to be surprised by the words and emotions that emerge.
This is an important part of the poetry group. Nobody needs to be an experienced poet, and there is no pressure to read aloud. People are welcome to participate at their own pace, listen to other carers and gradually build their confidence.
Exploring “The Heart of Care”
The main writing exercise was called “The Heart of Care”. Carers were given the beginnings of lines and invited to complete them using words drawn from their own experiences. They could choose whether or not to use rhyme.
The poems explored dedication, courage, memories, exhaustion, prayer, quiet reflection and the determination required to continue caring through difficult days. Familiar moments, including sharing a laugh, shedding a tear or simply making a cup of tea, became meaningful images within the poems.
Although everyone worked from the same starting point, each poem developed its own character and voice. One contribution focused on the strength needed to continue walking along the “winding road” of caring. Another described finding a voice and taking a stance, while another ended by recognising that small moments of reflection can help build the core of a carer’s wellbeing.
The exercise reminded us that poetry does not need to be complicated. A few carefully chosen words can express feelings that may otherwise be difficult to explain.
Listening, reflecting and encouraging one another
After each poem was shared, group members were encouraged to ask thoughtful questions and reflect on what they had heard. This created some powerful conversations about finding your voice, managing negative thoughts and recognising your own efforts.
One carer spoke about replacing late-night self-criticism with positive affirmations: reminding themselves that they had done their best and did not need to solve everything before allowing themselves to rest.
Another spoke about the “will” carers must find each morning to get up and continue. Even though they felt nervous about reading aloud, the encouragement they received demonstrated the peer-support element at the heart of the group.
Carers were encouraged to keep their poems together in a folder or notebook. Returning to words about hope, warmth, identity and resilience can offer reassurance during times when someone is feeling low or overwhelmed.
When a carer’s poem becomes a song
A particularly moving part of the evening came when one member shared a song developed from their own poem about caring. The piece was originally inspired by the theme “A Carer Is” and offered a heartfelt message to other carers: you are seen, you matter and the contribution you make deserves to be recognised.
Members described the song as a love letter to carers. They felt it was something from which carers could draw comfort and strength, particularly because recognition does not always come from services or even from the people receiving care.
The writer generously gave permission for the song to be shared with other carer groups, forums and events.
The session was also an opportunity to ask carers what they would like to experience at upcoming in-person and hybrid poetry events.
Ideas included combining poetry with art, drawing and music; creative activities based on hope, wellbeing and resilience; choosing unexpected words from a hat and using them to write a poem or short story; and using simple unfinished lines to help people try poetry for the first time.
Members also suggested introducing relaxation, breathing and gentle body-awareness activities. These could help carers settle their minds, release some tension and feel ready to write.
Most importantly, carers wanted opportunities to perform their own work and help lead parts of future workshops. One member volunteered to lead a creative word-picking exercise at a future event. This is an exciting step towards making the programme increasingly carer-led and co-produced.
Upcoming activities discussed during the session included an Ealing Central Library workshop on 8 October, a future workshop at Greenford Library and an event at Manor House Library in Lewisham on 4 November. Further details will be shared once all arrangements have been confirmed.
Join the Ealing Carers Online Poetry Group
The Ealing Carers Online Poetry Group is more than a writing workshop. It is a friendly and supportive community where carers can connect, develop their creativity and have their experiences heard and valued.
You do not need to consider yourself a poet. You can write in rhyme or free verse, share something you have already created or simply attend and listen. Carers from Ealing and beyond are welcome to take part.
The next online meeting is planned for Friday 25 September 2026. Please contact the group organiser for the joining details and to be added to the mailing list.
Whether you are looking for creative inspiration, companionship, a little relaxation or a safe way to express your caring experiences, you will be warmly welcomed.
A fantastic new opportunity from King’s College London is inviting unpaid carers and members of the public to capture these experiences through photography.
Free Online Photography Workshops
Whether you’ve never taken a photograph beyond snapping pictures on your phone or you already enjoy photography, these free online workshops are designed for everyone.
You’ll learn how to:
Use your smartphone to take more meaningful photographs.
Participants will have the opportunity to submit their photographs to be displayed at the DUALITY: Journeys of Ageing and Multiple Long-Term Conditions community exhibition.
The exhibition celebrates the real-life experiences of people living with long-term health conditions, those who support them, and the communities around them.
Join the DUALITY Community Event
The exhibition forms part of a free community event taking place at Bush House, King’s College London.
Date: Tuesday 8 September Time: 4:00pm – 7:30pm
Visitors can enjoy:
A community photography exhibition.
Conversations with people who have lived experience of long-term conditions.
Information from local health and community organisations.
A discussion about realistic ways to include exercise and wellbeing in everyday life.
Complimentary refreshments.
The event is open to everyone, but registration is required as places are limited.
If you’re an unpaid carer and would like to explore your creativity while helping raise awareness of the realities of caring and long-term health conditions, we encourage you to register for these free workshops.
Places are limited, so early booking is recommended.
This opportunity is free, welcoming, and open to everyone, no photography experience required.
This week (6–12 July) marks Alcohol Awareness Week 2026, organised by Alcohol Change UK. This year’s theme, “Alcohol and Me,” encourages us to take a moment to reflect on our own relationship with alcohol and the impact it can have on our health, mental wellbeing, relationships and everyday lives.
For many unpaid carers supporting someone with a mental health condition, life can be emotionally demanding. While we often focus on the person we care for, it’s just as important to look after our own wellbeing. This campaign reminds us that seeking support, talking openly and making small positive changes can make a real difference.
To support this important awareness week, I’ve created a new video on my YouTube channel, A Caring Mind, exploring why Alcohol Awareness Week matters, particularly for carers and families affected by mental ill health.
If this post resonates with you, please share the video to help raise awareness, reduce stigma and remind carers that their wellbeing matters too.
By Matthew McKenzie – Chair of Triangle of Care community group, NHS England involvement & Carer Poet
We are delighted to invite carers to “Caring Together, Stronger Together” a special event hosted by West London NHS Trust to recognise, support and celebrate the vital role of carers.
The event is open to all carers across Ealing, Hounslow, and Hammersmith & Fulham, so please could you share this information and the attached flyer with all of your networks.
Join us for an enjoyable and informative afternoon featuring:
Opportunities to socialise and connect with other carers
Inspiring talks, presentations and poetry
A carers’ services marketplace with information stands
I will also be hosting a Carer stall providing leaflets for Carers including UCP
Wellbeing activities, including mindfulness and hand massages
A complimentary hot lunch
Event details: 📅 Wednesday 29 July 🕐 1:00pm – 4:00pm 📍 Irish Cultural Centre, 5 Blacks Road, London W6 9DT
The event is designed to help carers connect, access information, and take some well-deserved time for themselves in a welcoming and supportive environment.
Looking forward to welcoming carers from across our West London communities. Please help us spread the word by sharing this invitation and the attached flyer.
Are you a parent or carer from an ethnic minority background who is currently receiving support from community mental health services in South West London? Researchers at King’s College London are looking to hear from families about their experiences to help improve the support available to parents and carers.
Who can take part?
You may be eligible if you:
Are aged 18–65
Are currently under the care of South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust community mental health services
Have caring responsibilities for a child under 18
Identify as being from an ethnic minority background
Why take part?
Parents and carers from ethnic minority communities often face unique challenges when accessing mental health support. By sharing your experiences, you can help researchers understand what works well, what could be improved, and how services can better support families across South West London.
Your voice can contribute to developing more inclusive, family-focused mental health services for future generations.
Are practitioners involved?
The study is also inviting practitioners working in community mental health services within South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust to take part, helping to bring together both professional and lived experience perspectives.
Thank You for Your Time
Participants apart from practitioners will receive a thank-you gift in recognition of their time and contribution.
Interested in Taking Part?
For more information or to express your interest, please contact:
If you have cared for, supported, or helped someone navigate mental health services, your experience matters.
Researchers are seeking carers to share their perspectives as part of a project exploring how people make decisions about mental health treatment together. The insights gathered will help shape a research funding application focused on understanding how service users, carers, and clinicians can work collaboratively when making decisions about care and treatment.
Use your Carers’ Voice
Carers often play a vital role in supporting loved ones through mental health challenges. You may have helped someone:
Understand treatment options
Attend appointments
Manage medication and care plans
Communicate with healthcare professionals
Make important decisions during difficult times
Your experiences can provide valuable insights into what works well, what could be improved, and how mental health services can better support collaborative decision-making.
Who Can Take Part?
We are looking for people who have supported someone through mental health care.
We are particularly keen to hear from carers from minoritised and under-represented communities, whose perspectives are often missing from research but are essential to ensuring services meet the needs of everyone.
What’s Involved?
Participants will be invited to take part in an online discussion via Microsoft Teams.
Dates: 15–19 June Format: Microsoft Teams Time commitment: Up to 2 hours Payment: £27.50 per hour (NIHR public involvement rate)
Make a Difference Through Your Experience
By sharing your views, you can help influence future research and contribute to improving how mental health treatment decisions are made between service users, carers, and clinicians.
Every experience is valuable, and your contribution could help shape better mental health care for individuals and families in the future.
Interested?
Register your interest by scanning the QR code on the poster or visiting:
tinyurl.com/5f83xea5
Thank you for considering taking part and helping ensure carers’ voices are heard.
