A Conversation About ‘Wellbeing’ BAME Communities – Arabic and Urdu Women

Healthwatch South Tees (Middlesbrough and Redcar and Cleveland) undertook research about the wellbeing of BAME women following a request from the local Integrated Care. The findings from these consultations have since been fed back to the ICS, so that the intelligence can help shape the way health and care services are delivered across the region, ensuring they are relevant to their local communities. Healthwatch spoke to 12 women who spoke either Arabic or Urdu at Nur Fitness.

Healthwatch explored with the group what “wellbeing” meant to them.  Attendees felt that this encompassed healthy eating, socialising with people from different backgrounds, access to education and exercise.

The group explored what needed to be in place for them to make healthy choices.  The women felt that childcare needed to be in place to enable them to exercise.  Other things included transport, language barriers, lack of cultural awareness.  The women felt that they had gained in confidence and wellbeing through being involved in Nur Fitness.

The report contains 5 recommendations about courses and advice from GPs being made culturally appropriate, the need for grassroots consultation, better access to translation and about health and social care services having more awareness around the cultural barriers that patients from BAME backgrounds face in regard to discussing mental health.