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Yasmin Blackwood wrote on Tuesday 24th April 2023 the below:

"A question/reflection all my life I have watched those entrenched in gang activity or 'the road' struggle with mental health. A majority (99.9% of those I know and have worked with anyway) of men are out here running around with complex PTSD and a whole bunch of undiagnosed mental health conditions. Yesterday I stopped by 'the ends' whilst having what was an actually positive and quite inspiring conversation, his phone kept ringing. One of the boys had gone missing and he was concerned that he was having some psychotic episode for about two weeks now. The friend is experiencing severe paranoia and thinks everyone is plotting to hurt him long story short. Now his phone has been off all day and no one including his girlfriend and family have seen or heard from him – no one can find him anywhere. This led to 'I hope he ain't done nothing stupid'."

Yasmin asks "Who is working with or addressing the needs for these men?" Can we talk about it?! #Trauma?#Gangs?#MentalHealth

A few moment's later I noticed a friend/mentor post on LinkedIn:

Rotimi Akinsete "Spent much of last night at BBC studios in Central London on the ‘Talks with Richie Brave’ show and discussing live on air what it’s like being the victim of violent crime with artist Govna B.Working with such gifted and brilliant young people provides so much hope for the future. If interested you can listen again here: 1 Extra "

As a counsellor/psychotherapist/artist/coach patterns are how I make sense of what I am noticing. The aim is to create change through a vast networks of links we have.

Earlier in the week I had a conversation with a friend who identified in plain terms what prevents some Black men specifically from engaging with psychotherapeutic support, the central idea relates to perception of self, by others appearing as less than. When there is no one definition of being a Black man. The interview pulls and teases ideas of what Black masculinity apart. Being a victim of a negative experience and of holding a victim mentality. 2 different view points to be aware of.

Glad that the interview talks about how powerful creativity is in creating change for an individual and for a community, experiencing crime and what a personal responsibility is to that and what a cultural response is. The use of gallows humour to bring some degree of a break to a situation that is pressured is an incredibly spontaneous and human response to life's strains.

When you can please listen to the interview link above.

Contact Yasmin Blackwood for the full article https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/yasmin-blackwood/

Rotimi Akinsete can be found here https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/rotimi-akinsete-67282216/

A few other notable individuals involved with the work of change?Dr Luke Roberts (Complexity Thinking)?Sue Brown?Craig Pinkney?Kay Rufai