Islington is set to bolster its support for young Black men's mental health with a newly approved strategy aimed at addressing disparities in access to care and outcomes.

The Islington Health and Wellbeing Board has given the green light to a comprehensive programme aimed at addressing the unique mental health challenges faced by young Black men in the borough. This decision, made during their meeting on Tuesday, 15 July 2025, marks a significant step towards reducing inequalities and improving life chances for this demographic.

The Young Black Men and Mental Health Programme will focus on early intervention, culturally competent therapeutic solutions, and community engagement. According to the Islington HWB Black Boys Report, young Black men are disproportionately affected by mental health conditions but are the least likely to access support.

The programme's success will be measured using metrics such as reduced hospitalisations at Tier 4, reduced escalation of need for mental health services, school improvements in attainment, reduced persistent absence, reduced prevalence of child and family contextual (CFC) violence, and reduced prevalence of knife crime injury victims under the age of 25.

The programme is structured around four key pillars:

  • Early Intervention and Prevention: This involves counselling and one-on-one mentoring through the Becoming a Man (BAM) programme, placing mentors in three secondary schools across Islington. The Elevate Innovation Hub also serves as an early intervention and prevention strategy.
  • Elevate Innovation Hub: A community hub will deliver therapeutic solutions based on culturally competent practices. The team focuses on providing psychodynamic therapy in a holistic way and centered on a trauma informed model and approach to supporting those children and young people.
  • The Barbers Round Chair Project: A network of Islington barbers will be established as community mental health ambassadors and champions.
  • Cultural Competency and Anti-Racist Practice Training: Frontline service providers, including police, GPs, social care workers, and schools, will receive training to improve their cultural competency and anti-racist practices.

During the meeting, Curtis Ashton, Director for Young Islington in the Council, highlighted the disparities that exist when it comes to health inequalities and poorer outcomes for Black boys. He noted that young Black men are more likely to be affected by mental health conditions, less likely to access support, and more likely to be hospitalised and diagnosed with serious conditions.

Councillor Michelline Safi-Ngongo, Executive Member for Children, Young People & Families, expressed her gratitude to the partnership, stating that their contribution means a lot to young people. She also inquired about plans to expand the programme's reach, given the additional funding.

Curtis Ashton responded that if they are successful in receiving additional funds from the Youth Endowment Programme, they may well be able to deliver the Becoming a Man programme within six of our secondary schools.

The board has asked to help promote the Young Black Men and Mental Health programme to the partnership, staff members and potential service users, and to continue to keep abreast of initiatives such as the Young Black Men and Mental Health programme, that are focussed on reducing inequalities.