We’re delighted to be working with the Synergi-Leeds partnership to explore the impact of their model as a catalyst for change within the Leeds mental health system.
Synergi-Leeds is a city-wide partnership committed to tackling racial inequalities in mental health and creating lasting system change. Established in 2019, the partnership brings together communities, statutory services, and leaders across Leeds to challenge racism, champion racial equity and justice, and improve mental health outcomes for racialised communities.
At a time of significant change across the NHS and wider public services, this work provides an opportunity to reflect on the value, relevance, and future potential of the Synergi-Leeds approach. It will examine how collaborative leadership, community voice, and anti-racist action can contribute to addressing entrenched inequalities and building more equitable, responsive, and compassionate systems of care.
This work will capture critical learning from an award-winning place-based approach to racial justice in mental health, generating insights that can inform local action and inspire change nationally.
Andy Bell, chief executive of Centre for Mental Health said: “Tackling racial inequalities in mental health needs systemic action at every level. We’re delighted to be working alongside Synergi-Leeds to evaluate and understand its approach and its impact. We’ll be seeking to learn about how the partnership is working and what other areas can take from it to make a difference in communities across the country.”
Sharon Prince, Senior Responsible Officer, Synergi-Leeds Partnership said: “Synergi-Leeds was established from a shared determination to challenge racial inequalities in mental health and create meaningful change through partnership, community voice and collective action. Working with Centre for Mental Health provides an important opportunity to reflect on what we have learned, understand the difference this approach is making, and explore how we can build on that learning for the future. We hope this partnership will generate valuable insights, both for Leeds and for other places seeking to tackle racism, advance equity and create mentally healthier communities.”
To find out more about Synergi-Leeds or the evaluation, contact the partnership at Synergileeds@leeds.gov.uk.
