re: enquiry

[Vern]

Hi there,

I am conducting research looking at the relation between perceived 'racism'
and mental health. Whilst much has been written on the subject from a
sociological perspective, very little has been written from psychological
perspective, and using quantitative methods, in non-clinical populations.
Much of what we know about the mental health of black people comes from
research carried out on clinical populations. This information can not
possibly reflect the true nature of the mental health of black and minority
ethnic communities.


The 'National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal', emphasised that: 'some of
the groups in society that are the most vulnerable to becoming victims of
social exclusion are forgotten simply because not enough is known about
their particular circumstances'. Membership of any ethnic group is something
that, is subjectively meaningful to the person concerned, and the
terminology used to describe ethnic groups has changed markedly over time
(Office of National Statistics, 2003). It is for these reasons that is 'why'
I want to put together a Panel of black and ethnic minority people who would
be willing to participate in ongoing and future research. As you know, most
government decisions are evidence-based, and therefore participation in
ongoing and future research is the best way for black people to influence
policy decisions, and combat social exclusion and disaffection in black and
minority ethnic minority communities.


The BME Research Panel will be comprised of black and ethnic minority people
living in the UK who might be interested in taking part in ongoing and
future web-based research. Participation is entirely voluntary, and you can
withdraw from the Panel at anytime. All information will be kept
confidential, and not share with anyone else without your prior expressed
permission. If you would like to register please go to:


http://myweb.lsbu.ac.uk/~demaynav/BMEPanel/InvitationToRegisterForm.htm




In addition, it would be useful for the black and minority ethnic community
to learn something about how black people process racist information, and
what effect this information has on how black people see themselves in
relation with others, from a psychological perspective. I am, therefore,
conducting research in the UK, looking at the relation between perceived
'racism' and mental health in black or mixed race men of African and African
Caribbean descent, and would like participants to help in this venture by
completing the on-line questionnaire which can be found at the following
link:


http://myweb.lsbu.ac.uk/~demaynav/Research/ResearchQuestionsB.htm



The research will be carried out in collaboration with ' Faculty of Health
and Social Care' at London South Bank University, and the findings will be
disseminated by conference and peer reviewed articles.

It would be most helpful if you could put something in your next/coming
newsletters and supplements sent to people on your staff emailing list, or
button/link on your website, inviting BME people to participate?

Yours Sincerely,

V. A. De Maynard
LSBU-Faculty of Health and Social Care

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