We are back again with our next event!

Everything will be bigger and better. There will be MORE opportunities for discussion, MORE games and MORE perspectives given. Our last event had such great reception that we're taking the best features from it and enhancing it.

And to say thank you for your loyalty, tickets will be on sale to SUBSCRIBERS only for the first 24 hours - so that subscribers can snatch up th...

So... if you weren't already aware, we threw our first ever event and it was a SUCCESS! Lafiya Lounge was designed to be space for African/Caribbean Brits to learn about mental/general health, network and have fun - thanks to our friendly participants and dedicated team, it was exactly that! 

From networking opportunities, to health checks, art appreciation, food, interactive talks and educational...

As it's World Mental Health day, we encourage our readers to make sure that everyone around them is able to access mental health services with ease and without the fear of judgement.

Book an appointment with your GP to discuss any mental concerns you may be having, your GP service works in conjunction with many mental health services and can refer you to somewhere appropriate.

For stress, depression...

For the first time ever we will (FINALLY) be hosting an event! The event will be centred around providing education about physical and mental health issues in a fun and interactive way! There'll be games, prizes, professionals, open discussions and plenty of opportunities to meet new people!

To order tickets: lafiyalounge.eventbrite.co.uk

Themes of the day will include discussing stigma, coping mechanisms, th...

I was woken up by a sharp pain in my chest. It felt as though somebody had taken a dagger straight to the centre of my diaphragm. I screamed. My mum flew into my room quicker than I could blink “What’s wrong?” She asked. 

“I don’t know” I wailed. I didn’t know. I had no idea what was wrong I just knew my chest was in agony. “I’ll be fine” I whispered, “I’ll just take some paracetamol and sleep it...

What is Racism?

This may seem like a ridiculous question, but for a lot of people, the definition of racism differs. For instance, some people believe that anyone and everyone can be racist, as long as they hold stereotypical, ignorant and discriminatory views. However, for others the term ‘Racism’ describes more than the ignorant or prejudice views of an individual. Rather, racism describes a system in whic...

Starting university was a new path in my life that I was very ready for. I would be moving from home to a new environment where I didn’t know anybody to start with, I’d make new friends and experience the university life that I had been so eagerly researching about.  All the emotions geared towards university were of positivity and any concerns I had were mostly to do with minor things. However, university...

Schizophrenia is a mental health condition that may cause someone to act and perceive things differently. Symptoms include experiencing hallucinations (seeing, hearing and sensing things that are not there), having disruptive fixed beliefs, muddled thoughts (which compromises their functionality) and exhibiting “strange” behaviours because of these things (e.g. responding to voices). Due to the sometimes ec...

Mental health is a huge issue in the UK and around the world with 1 in 4 people in the UK being diagnosed every year. A growth in awareness has meant that those who are suffering have a greater chance in overcoming this obstacle. Awareness of mental health has meant that the stigma towards having a mental health issue has deteriorated, and as a community there is a greater level of confidence that those wit...

People suffering from mental health problems are three times more likely to be in debt. This is due to the clear interaction between financial stress and our mental health. Poor mental health, for example during times of depression or anxiety, can make it much harder to manage money. Then in turn worrying about money and bills can make mental health issues worse. This is a cycle that many find hard to break...

What is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)? Whenever I am asked this question I stall for a minute. To many people, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome doesn't mean anything. They've never heard of it and might never even witness any of the symptoms. Yet it is a condition that affects about 1 in 10 women in the UK.

The main characteristic of PCOS is an excess number of cysts in the ovaries. Women normally develop foll...

In 2013, the All-Party Parliamentary Group published a study titled “Dementia does not discriminate” exploring the experiences of black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. The study reported that the number of people in our communities with dementia will increase rapidly in the coming decades. As you sit here reading this, 1 person has just been diagnosed with dementia. By the time you finish reading th...

Many cultures around the world are still exploring mental health, what it means and how to treat/respond to mental illnesses, for countless years (and even currently) it has been stigmatised, demonised or just ignored. What does this mean for sufferers? Living in an environment that simply refuses to support or see what empathise can further worsen symptoms and isolate victims. A recent post by Nunya Gemega...

I’ve spent a lot of time searching online for a face similar to mine in the conversation of motherhood & mental health. I’ve yearned for a woman who was brave enough to bare her vulnerability and share her struggle in the hope of inspiring the next woman.

I didn’t find that woman & so I’ve decided to become her.

My story is raw & ongoing, but I hope by sharing, I can comfort women like me who have felt alone...

Autism is a broad term for a range of conditions that stunt social integration and communication skills; it is usually detected in early childhood. Ethnicity poses as an important factor within diagnosis and treatment, the negative experiences black communities often face are due to; a lack of knowledge surrounding health issues, poorer health outcomes and lack of access to healthcare.

As of 2015, Autism Spe...