Public Health

Current Awareness Updates

Increased inequalities and barriers to healthy eating and exercise during lockdown for those with obesity.
Carried out by Frankie Marcelline from Brighton and Sussex on 8/3/2021
https://www.knowledgeshare.nhs.uk/index.php?PageID=literature_search_request_download&RequestID=27968
(This evidence search report includes studies and reports on barriers to healthy eating and exercise that people have faced during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown in the UK. People with obesity in particular may have poorer mental health and are at higher risk of additional challenges during this lockdown as they are likely to be isolating and find it harder to exercise or eat well. Also includes results focused on what support is required for people with obesity in the post-Covid recovery.)

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy – debunking the myths using a community engagement approach underpinned by NICE guidance.
NICE Shared Learning Database; 2021.

(Shared learning case study. This example describes how GPs from Black Women in Health (BWIH) reduced COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy amongst the BAME population by debunking the myths about COVID-19 vaccines by organising webinars, virtual group talks, podcasts, videos in other languages and dialects. The approach to community engagement was informed by recommendations from NICE’s guidance for Community engagement: improving health and wellbeing and reducing health inequalities.)

The NHS’s role in tackling poverty: awareness, action and advocacy The King’s Fund

(One of the main drivers behind the creation of the NHS was to protect the poorest in society from being bankrupted by the need to pay for care. But the NHS can do more to mitigate, prevent and reduce poverty. This report sets out what the NHS, as the largest economic institution in the country, needs to maximise its contribution to tackling poverty, within its resources and with its partners.)

COVID-19: guidance on supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing GOV.UK

(Advice for parents and carers on looking after the mental health and wellbeing of children or young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.)

Communications Toolkit

Improving communication with black, Asian and minority ethnic women and local maternity teams

Source: The King’s Fund; Health Management and Policy Alert

This toolkit aims to provide helpful suggestions about how to communicate with women of different backgrounds, about the extra support that is available to them, as well as signposting to currently available publications, messaging, insights and templates.

Unequal impact?

Coronavirus and BAME people

Source: The King’s Fund Health and Wellbeing Bulletin

This report outlines the findings of an inquiry that aimed to explore the pre-existing inequalities facing people from ethnic minorities and how these inequalities have impacted on their vulnerability to the virus. It makes a series of recommendations to help mitigate the impacts of the pandemic on ethnic minority groups.

To find out more about the Women and Equalities Committee click here.

Mental Health

Have existing inequalities made mental health of BAME groups worse during the COVID-19 pandemic?

A survey by the mental health charity Mind found that existing inequalities in housing, employment, finances and other issues have had a greater impact on the mental health of people from different BAME groups than on white people during the pandemic

Read more here

Jhalak Prize

2020 shortlist announced

First awarded in March 2017, the Jhalak Prize seeks to celebrate books by British/British resident BAME writers. The prize is unique in that it accepts entries published in the UK by writers of colour. These include (and not limited to) fiction, non-fiction, short stories, graphic novels, poetry, children’s books, YA, teen and all other genres. The prize is also open to self-published writers.

See the shortlist here

Jhalak Prize

Longlist for 2020 announced

First awarded in March 2017, the Jhalak Prize, seeks to celebrate books by British/British resident BAME writers. ​ The prize is unique in that it accepts entries published in the UK by writers of colour. These include (and not limited to) fiction, non-fiction, short stories, graphic novels, poetry, children’s books, YA, teen and all other genres. The prize is also open to self-published writers.

Read more about the prize and see the 2020 longlist here