Publish date: 16 October 2025
To help tackle gaps in mental health referrals, our CAMHS Link Workers launched a series of workshops designed to connect with ethnic communities that are often underrepresented in mental health services. These included Sikh, Somali, Polish, Sri Lankan, and Arab groups. The targeted outreach helped increase referrals overall in Ealing by 10%.
This initiative was informed by findings from the Mental Health of Children and Young People in England 2021 survey, which highlighted that children and young people from these backgrounds are less likely to be referred to CAMHS, despite experiencing equal or greater mental health needs. Using a culturally inclusive approach, our teams worked closely with service users, local organisations, and faith centres to build trust, raise awareness, and support referrals that reflect people’s cultural needs.
The team concentrated on three key areas:
- Identifying gaps in mental health knowledge through community-led focus groups
- Raising awareness via leaflets and local events
- Co-designing and delivering tailored workshops on priority topics identified by the communities themselves
The impact has been significant. Referrals from targeted communities rose by an average of 30%, and the team has now built a strong network across more than 20 communities. These efforts have created safe spaces for open conversations and helped reduce stigma around mental health.
Sarika Ghai, CAMHS Service Manager, shared: “This project started when we noticed a clear gap between the ethnic diversity in Ealing and the communities accessing mental health support through CAMHS. Our goal was to provide community-based support for children, young people and their families, both through NHS and non-NHS services, and to build a bridge that would help Sikh, Somali, Sri Lankan, Arab and Polish families feel more confident in seeking help for their children’s mental health.”
One community leader from Southall Gurdwara reflected on the experience and said: “It was inspiring to see many mums, families, and community members come together to learn, share, and support each other. From open conversations to one-on-one chats with healthcare professionals, the safe and confidential spaces allowed for honest dialogue and real connection.”
This approach, as part of our Quality Improvement (QI) Team’s ongoing work, is helping ensure that every child and young person in Ealing can access the support they need — when they need it most. This is also one of three West London Trust projects selected to present at this year’s Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) Quality Improvement Conference in November.