Actor David Harewood in conversation with mental health workers Simon Arday and Kojo Bonsu.
In this special event co-produced with members of the RCN's Mental Health Forum Ethnic Minority Sub-group, actor David Harewood spoke to us about his new book Maybe I don't belong here: A Memoir of Race, Identity, Breakdown and Recovery (Pan Macmillan, 2021).
David was in conversation with Simon Arday (Registered Mental Health Nurse, Mental Health Network Manager & the RCN's Expert Representative for Parity of Esteem) and Kojo Bonsu (Peer Involvement Worker), exploring what it means to be a person of colour navigating the mental health system. Drawing on expertise from Black health care professionals and those with lived experience, the event explored what needs to be done to impact change in the system.
Our panel also took questions from activists, students and network members working in this area.
This event was chaired by Catherine Gamble RCN Fellow and Associate Director of Nursing Education South West London and St Georges MH NHS Trust.
'As a Black British man I believe it is vital that I tell this story. It may be just one account from the perspective of a person of colour who has experienced this system, but it may be enough to potentially change an opinion or, more importantly, stop someone else from spinning completely out of control.' - David Harewood
This event was British Sign Language interpreted by Jacqui Beckford and Ezekwisiri Ani.