By Matthew McKenzie – Chair of Ethnic MH Carer forum

On Thursday 15 October 2026, I attended an evening event hosted by Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust, bringing together staff, community representatives, faith voices and people with lived experience to discuss racial inequalities in mental health care, although I attended as Chair of the National ethnic mental health carer forum, It was also lovely to be joined by Beata Bikowska and Tina Stevens from Cygnet Hospital Maidstone, alongside NHS colleagues and community partners, for this important conversation on tackling mental health inequalities.