VitaMinds – Vita Health Community Partnership

15th Apr 2021

We are extremely excited to be community support partners with the Vita Health Group. In partnership with the National Health Service (NHS) Vita Health Group offer a range of short-term psychological therapies to adults 16-years and over, who live and are registered with a GP in Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland.

Those from Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds are more likely to suffer mental health issues than people of white backgrounds. However, BAME groups have been found to be less likely to contact healthcare professionals and receive support or treatment, making them more likely to suffer in silence.

Equality Action’s current work in Loughborough includes the Positive Minds Project which tackles the barriers BAME individuals face in relation to mental health, including stigma, communication barriers, and a lack of awareness of the symptoms of mental health problems. Through this new project “VitaMinds”, we look forward to expanding this work across Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland, targeting mainly but not exclusively those from the BAME communities.

Existing mental health inequalities and barriers to accessing services have been compounded by Covid -19 which has had huge impact on the nation’s mental health.  This is a great opportunity to strengthen the provision of local mental health services making it easier to access support through the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) Service.

Vita Health Group will run the VitaMinds talking therapy IAPT service with Equality Action and two other local partners, The Bridge and the LGBT Centre. The service provides vital access to talking therapy for anyone 16 and over who is suffering from anxiety, depression, low moods and lack of motivation amongst other mental health issues.

Lisa Vine, Chair of Equality Action Limited, said: "We are thrilled to be working in partnership with Vita Health Group to support our BAME communities to access mental health services locally. We know from our work within Charnwood over the last 50 years, that these mental health services are often a lifeline for so many people and yet uptake levels aren't always where they should be. 

Over the next five years we will be supporting our BAME communities in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland to access the mental health provision as part of the IAPT service, that is right for them. It is our hope that these services will not only support them to overcome their mental ill health, but reduce the stigma surrounding mental ill health, encouraging others to access the services if and when they need them in the future”.

Alice Beckwith, NHS Transformation Director, at Vita Health Group, commented “Tackling mental health and wellbeing is a challenge for many people and the COVID-19 pandemic has heightened levels of stress and anxiety across the local population and we are delighted to be working with Equality Action to focus on providing services the BAME community. Our professional standards, services and expertise will ensure that the people of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland get the right care, in the right place at the right time.”

IAPT is a self-referral service and can be accessed online at: https://www.vitahealthgroup.co.uk/nhs-services/nhs-mental-health/leicester-leicestershire-rutland/  from Thursday 1 April, 2021 or by calling: 0333 0153 494.

Vita Health Group is a leading private UK healthcare provider. We are dedicated to making people better, by providing integrated physical and mental health services to employers/insurers, the NHS and private patients.

With over 30 years’ experience delivering best in class physical and mental health, Vita Health Group has unique insight into delivering holistic, person-centred care