Looking after mental health is as important as caring for physical health, yet many people struggle to recognise when they need help or when they feel their symptoms are serious enough to seek support.
Around one in five adults in England, an estimated 9.4 million people, are affected by a common mental health condition but millions are missing out on treatment that could help them.
Black communities urged to use NHS Talking Therapies
Black communities urged to use NHS Talking Therapies
An NHS campaign is encouraging people from Black communities to come forward for support with common anxiety‑related mental health conditions, as many continue to face barriers to recognising symptoms or seeking help early.
Stigma, silence and the pressure to “stay strong” can mean people delay getting support. Many do not realise that symptoms such as panic attacks, flashbacks, compulsions, obsessive thoughts, fixation with appearance or overwhelming fear may be signs of treatable anxiety conditions.
NHS Talking Therapies offer free, confidential and effective support for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Social Anxiety Disorder, Phobias, Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) and Panic Disorder, and people can self‑refer online without needing to see a GP first.
Therapists come from a wide range of backgrounds, and support can be delivered in person, over the phone or online, with options to receive help in your preferred language through multilingual therapists or confidential interpreters.
As part of the campaign, Dr Amos Ogunkoya and broadcaster Tyler West recently joined The Marvyn Harrison Podcast, a show known for honest, culturally grounded conversations about identity, masculinity, mental health and lived experience within Black communities.
Marvyn Harrison Podcast NHS Talking Therapies — Mental Health, Masculinity & Taking the First Step
In their episode, they explored the realities of anxiety conditions, the pressures that often keep people silent, and the difference talking therapy can make. They shared the following reflections:
Dr Amos Ogunkoya, said “We need to be careful how we talk about mental health, OCD isn’t just being tidy. It’s an anxiety disorder where people may develop compulsive rituals to try to reduce overwhelming fear or uncertainty. In many Black families, people carry these struggles quietly because they don’t want to burden others or fear being misunderstood. Talking Therapies can give people a space where they are believed, supported and given tools to make sense of what they’re experiencing.”
Tyler West
Tyler West
Tyler West who openly talks about suffering with PTSD and Social Anxiety in the podcast said “Talking Therapies gives people a safe space to stop bottling things up, my biggest strength comes in talking about things. The only way we change the conversation around men’s mental health is by normalising it. Making it okay to say, ‘I’m struggling’ or ‘I’m going to therapy.”
Anyone who feels their mental health is affecting their daily life whether through anxiety in social situations, panic attacks, flashbacks, compulsions, phobias or distressing thoughts is encouraged to seek support through NHS Talking Therapies. Find out more or self‑refer at nhs.uk/talk
Glossary.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - frequent obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours (OCD).
Social Anxiety Disorder - long-term and overwhelming fear of social situations.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - involuntarily and vividly reliving traumatic events in the form of flashbacks or nightmares.
Panic Disorder - having regular and sudden panic attacks, often for no apparent reason.
Phobia’s - having an overwhelming and debilitating fear of an object, place, situation, feeling or animal.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder - obsessive thoughts and worry about your appearance.