Beks’ story
Writing for our 10 year anniversary series, Beks shares his thoughts on social work and the importance of representation in mental health services.
If I’m honest, I feel like I’m carrying a lot of weight entering the profession.
There’s a high turnover in social work and knowing how important the support we offer is for people, I want to find some longevity.
Our mental health services are still heavily dominated by medical treatments which aren’t always enough or right for people.
Making a difference
Social workers can be a voice for people and help them find other support to help them move forward.
I also feel a weight as a black man. Only around a quarter of mental health social workers are men, and there are even less ethnically diverse men.
Social workers can be a voice for people and help them find other support to help them move forward.
Growing up and living in an area like London, you see a lot of inequalities, which are being reflected in our mental health services.
Black people are disproportionately represented in mental health services and, out of every ethnic group, they are most likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act.
Far too many people from black backgrounds and ethnic minorities detained. That’s something I’ve witnessed first hand and want to help change.
Another area that resonates with me is the high number of men dying by suicide. We need men to be able to feel they can access support and openly discuss their mental health more.
The power of empowerment
As a starting point, I’m focusing on what I can do. And that is: empower people and encourage them to find their own way to a better life for themselves.
That’s the best support we can offer. It’s not always straightforward, but I’m pleased to be there to offer that hope and support.
Beks is a newly qualified social worker, in the second year of our training programme.
To mark our ten year anniversary, we’re sharing personal testimonies from people involved with our charity. From social workers like Beks, to people with lived experience of mental health services, our NHS and social care partners, and mental health practitioners.
Read more of these on our stories page.