How Vandu Languages Delivers Free Mental Health Support for Ethnic Minorities in East Sussex
In October 2022, Vandu Languages embarked on an ambitious initiative to offer free mental health support to ethnic minorities residing in East Sussex.
Recognising the vital importance of culturally sensitive and accessible care, this initiative has been made possible through funding from East Sussex County Council, which identified Vandu Languages’ bilingual advocacy as a key service in addressing mental health inequalities across marginalised communities.
This collaborative project has since evolved into a transformative service, encouraging trust and inclusion for migrants, refugees, and global majority individuals.
Why ethnic minority communities struggle to access mental health support
For several years, Vandu Languages’ bilingual advocates have informally supported individuals experiencing emotional issues and life-related stressors. While their role is not to provide therapy, they are often the first point of contact for those navigating deeply challenging circumstances.
In many ethnic minority communities, cultural stigma, fear of judgment, and a lack of understanding of mental health can prevent individuals from seeking help. Even when people do wish to access support, they often face language barriers, discrimination, and a lack of familiarity with UK services.
For migrants, refugees, and global majority individuals, this isolation can be deep and strong. Individuals may carry the trauma of displacement or past hardship, all while struggling to meet basic needs in an unfamiliar system.
This is the reality that has shaped Vandu’s unique approach.
Bilingual advocacy and community-based mental health support
In many cases, the emotional distress experienced by ethnic minority individuals is not due to clinical conditions alone, but rather the accumulation of everyday challenges, navigating benefits, securing safe housing, accessing healthcare, or enrolling children in school.
This is where bilingual advocates come into play. They do not replace therapists, nor do they provide clinical treatment. Instead, they offer free mental health support that is informal, preventative, and rooted in real-life problem-solving.
Advocates support individuals in their native language, helping them navigate the UK's complex systems. This practical guidance helps reduce stress at its source and empowers people to take control of their situation.
When someone exhibits signs of clinical distress, for example, depression, trauma, or severe anxiety, advocates will refer them to a specialist service, such as Counselling Plus or Health in Mind.
This dual approach, combining root cause intervention with trusted referrals, has made a significant difference. And because the service is entirely free of charge, it offers a rare and essential lifeline to individuals who might otherwise be left behind.
One Syrian woman supported through the initiative shared:
“I had a really difficult time. Sometimes, I would feel really upset because I didn’t have any support. I needed someone to talk to for my mental health.”
Her words echo the feelings of many others, those who carry unspoken burdens in silence due to language and cultural gaps.
Extension of the project
Although initially designed as a six-month intervention, the project has been extended for over two years due to its successful implementation and impact.
Working alongside Health in Mind and Counselling Plus, Vandu Languages has created a pathway for effective referrals. Where appropriate, bilingual advocates support individuals in accessing these formal mental health services, ensuring an effective handover to specialists.
These transitions are monitored, with the bilingual advocate often continuing to act as a cultural and linguistic bridge throughout the service user’s journey.
In total, over 215 individuals have accessed support through Vandu’s informal mental health support services.
“It helps the community members to feel easy and relaxed to talk to the advocate about their personal problems [knowing there is] someone to listen to them.”
— Chi Ling Chan, Cantonese Bilingual Advocate
What do bilingual advocates do?
Bilingual advocates are not therapists or counsellors. They are trained professionals who use their linguistic and cultural knowledge to support individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds in navigating life in the UK. Their support reduces the practical stressors that can contribute to mental health issues. Here’s what they typically do:
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Assist with applications and understanding of public services (e.g. benefits, housing, healthcare services, etc.)
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Advocate for individuals in settings like schools, GP appointments, or council offices.
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Help clients understand their rights and responsibilities.
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Provide informal emotional reassurance in the client’s native language.
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Identify when an individual may require formal mental health support and refer them appropriately.
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Monitor referrals to ensure the client receives the help they need.
This role is particularly important in communities where talking about mental health is taboo or where mistrust of statutory services prevents people from seeking help.
The goal of bilingual advocacy is to reduce systemic and language-related stress, not to replace mental health professionals. But by offering culturally relevant, early-stage support, advocates help stop small issues from spiralling into major crises.
Empowering bilingual advocates
The success of this initiative also lies in the development and empowerment of the bilingual advocates themselves. Thanks to the project’s funding, additional training has been provided to all participating bilingual advocates, with a strong focus on mental health awareness and trauma-informed practice.
These bilingual advocates, who are often from the same cultural background as the people they support, already possess unique cultural insight. Training has further strengthened their ability to identify early signs of mental distress, offer reassurance, and support onward referrals in a culturally sensitive and professional manner.
Outcomes and benefits
The benefits of this initiative have been felt at every level:
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By funding this initiative, East Sussex County Council has shown a clear commitment to meeting the needs of its diverse population. This project reflects a forward-thinking approach to public health. In doing so, it has helped reduce health inequalities and build a stronger foundation for early intervention.
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For ethnic minority community members, this culturally sensitive, free mental health support enables them to navigate unfamiliar systems with greater ease and confidence. For many, this means a tangible improvement in quality of life, reduced isolation, and the ability to act on issues that previously felt overwhelming or unmanageable.
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For healthcare professionals, this project offers a cost-effective and collaborative model of support. By addressing non-clinical stressors early, bilingual advocates help prevent the escalation of distress into crisis, reducing waiting times and reliance on overburdened mental health services.
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For bilingual advocates, the project has been professionally and personally rewarding, as they assist individuals in need, especially in communities where conversations around mental health are still considered taboo.
Working together: a call to healthcare and community organisations
We would like to thank the organisations that have worked closely with us during this project, including Health in Mind, Eastbourne Sanctuary Café, Eastbourne, Hastings and Peacehaven Islamic Community Centres, Sussex Community Development Association, the Chinese community associations across Sussex, East Sussex Association of Autistic Children, Rother and Hastings Voluntary Action, 3VA, East Sussex Healthwatch, and Care for the Carers.
We encourage GPs, NHS staff, and community service providers to consider how the support provided by bilingual advocates can complement existing mental health services.
If you work with individuals from ethnic minority, refugee, or migrant backgrounds who are struggling with system navigation —be it housing, benefits, education, or health access— referring them to Vandu Languages may help prevent deeper issues from arising.
Many clients feel overwhelmed not by a diagnosable mental illness but by the stress of bureaucracy, discrimination, language isolation, or insecurity in their daily lives. Our bilingual advocates are uniquely positioned to build trust with these clients and support them through life’s challenges in a way that formal institutions sometimes can’t.
Should a client require clinical mental health care, our advocates will ensure a smooth referral to services such as Counselling Plus, Health in Mind, or other appropriate partners while continuing to support them through the logistical and cultural aspects of that process.
We know that together, we can build a preventative and inclusive approach to mental well-being that acknowledges the intersection of mental health with housing, finances, immigration, and community life.
Looking ahead
Vandu Languages remains committed to the principles of bilingual advocacy and community empowerment.
Our vision is simple: to ensure that no one in East Sussex feels unheard or unsupported because of language or cultural differences.
If you are working with someone from an ethnic minority background in East Sussex who could benefit from this service, or if you wish to refer a patient, please contact us at admin@vandu.co.uk. Self-referrals are also warmly welcomed, whether you are seeking support for yourself or on behalf of a family member or friend.
