| AdminHistory | Tower Hamlets African and Caribbean Mental Health Organisation (THACMHO) was founded in 1996. It has become recognised that mental health services across the United Kingdom had failed African Caribbean people because they were not set up with other cultures in mind.
The 1990 Community Care Act led to some improvements with its requirement for comprehensive consultation procedures for providers and purchasers of mental health services to be follow. Tower Hamlets Mental Health Users Development Project attempted to find out the needs of local African Caribbean people. However, consultations and seminars in 1994 failed to attract wide community interest. Mike Loosley, the mental health development worker for Tower Hamlets Community Health Council Users Development Project and St. Clements Patients Council, asked Harry Cumberbatch, an Independent Mental Health Community Work Consultant to address the issue.
An 'African / Caribbean Conference and Consultation' was held in November 1996 which led to the formation of the Tower Hamlets African Caribbean Mental Health Users Group. The name later changed to Tower Hamlets African and Caribbean Mental Health Organisation (THACMHO). The aims of this voluntary organisation have been to:
- promote the well-being of African and Caribbean users of mental health services living in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets
- make the life of their communities a more fulfilling and rewarding experience.
- developing positive self-awareness and identity.
A key statement of the organisation has been: 'We believe that the best treatment for our mental health is a strong, vibrant and caring community'. THACMHO has run events including conferences and workshops, often during Black History Month. They have produced publication resources with a focus on Tower Hamlets maritime history and the slave trade. These include:
- 'Power Writers and the Struggle Against Slavery', 2003 and 2005 which celebrates African writers who came to the East End of London in the 18th Century;
- 'Sailors of the Caribbean, 2005;
- 'African History at the Tower of London', 2008.
Many publications have been achieved through THACMHO's 'Health Though History Project'. In addition to the Health Through History Committee, there has also been a Black History Committee at which Philip I Morgan was a key committee member and volunteer coordinator for 15 years before his death in 2017.
THACMHO has been led by users of mental health services, supported by a development worker. Members have included Harry Cumberbatch, Raymond Smith, Fabian Tompsett and Sidney Millin. Their work has continued as part of the Philip Morgan Legacy Group.
For more information check out Harry Cumberbatch's website created in 2024 'to commemorate my 60 years living in the UK whilst also reflecting on the 20 years I spent growing up in Barbados':
https://hcheritage.co.uk/ |