The Advancing Mental Health Equality Collaborative: Using Quality Improvement to Advance Equality in Mental Health Care

Aims The Advancing Mental Health Equality Collaborative is an innovative 3-year quality improvement programme led by the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ National Collaborating Centre for (NCCMH). collaborative was launched in July 2021 and involves 18 organisations across UK who, with support from NCCMH, are working to understand needs their population identify communities at risk experiencing inequality improve access, experience outcomes mental health care, support, treatment those populations. Methods An overarching driver diagram developed collaboration a wide range stakeholders through steering group meetings, design workshops remote consultation. This informs development population-specific diagrams, based on segments selected focus on. Each organisation allocated experienced coach who supports them apply approach plan deliver projects, including generate insights data, staff community engagement, carry out assets mapping, develop project's aim key drivers need work towards, measures, change ideas be tested, sustain successful changes. Members taking part also attend quarterly learning sets where they come together network, share challenges ideas, learn each other. Results Populations identified include children young people; Black, Asian Ethnic minority men aged 18+ years; carer population; neurodivergent individuals comorbid diagnoses; Muslim women/Black women; refugees forced migrants; women military veterans Greater Manchester Lancashire; Bangladeshi Pakistani Oldham; Traveller Somerset. A number initiatives being tested teams these populations, such as offering awareness sessions languages. Conclusion Addressing care long complex process. AMHE supporting take tackle this issue, ensuring projects fully co-produced affected inequality. includes engaging representatives trying all aspects projects; generating test, measure what important determine whether improvements have been made.