Faith Communities and Mental Health: Evidence and Policy Perspectives: A Policy Brief

A policy brief, Faith Communities and Mental Health: Evidence and Policy Perspectives has been produced by Dr Ope Atanda of London Southbank University. FaithAction has worked with Dr Ope throughout his research project to develop faith-based mental health interventions for Black majority communities, providing guidance, co-delivering an engagement event in November 2025 and providing support with finalising the briefing with Dr Ope and his team.

The 12-month study with Black-majority faith communities in England explored mental health help-seeking, aiming to leverage trusted faith networks to reduce disparities, as Black communities face higher rates of crisis care and detention. The research found that stigma, shame, low mental health literacy, and reliance on prayer often delay seeking professional help, while trust in faith leaders, peer support, and faith-sensitive spaces can encourage early care.

Co-produced interventions included training clergy and volunteers, establishing referral pathways and peer support groups, and running culturally aligned educational campaigns that frame help-seeking as compatible with faith.

Policy insights highlighted the need for collaboration between faith communities, NHS, and local authorities, shifting focus from crisis response to prevention. Recommendations include funding faith-based programs, integrating faith networks into local and national planning, and tracking outcomes to improve equity. Overall, faith communities are a trusted but underused resource, and co-produced, culturally sensitive initiatives can reduce stigma, enable early intervention, and enhance mental health equity.

You can read the full policy brief here.