BMHUK Magazine | October/November 2011 www.blackmentalhealth.org.uk


Black people twice as likely to get stomach cancer


Macmillan Cancer Support has warned that black people are nearly twice as likely to be diagnosed with stomach cancer that the host population.


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vidence from this charity shows that a disproportionally high number of black men


and women are suffering from the disease, however, until now no formal research has been done to fully understand why these disparities in stomach cancer exist. Different diets in the black community, and lack of cancer awareness, could be some of the risk factors leading to higher stomach cancer rates.


Warning symptoms of stomach cancer can include heartburn or indigestion that doesn’t go away; difficulty in swallowing; a bloated


feeling after eating and losing weight.


There are ways in which black people can cut down the risk of this disease Ellen Lang, senior Cancer information nurse at Macmillan Cancer Support said. She advised ‘to reduce the risk of stomach cancer - quit smoking and eat a healthy diet with more green leafy vegetables, fruit, less salt and processed meat.’


‘If you have any symptoms of stomach cancer described we would urge you to see your GP immediately who will examine you and arrange any tests or x-rays that


may be necessary. Many of the symptoms are common to conditions other than cancer but it’s important to have them checked out,’ Lang added.


For cancer support at home, over the phone, call the Macmillan Support Line free on 0808 808 00 00 (Monday to Friday, 9am -


Black deaths in custody public meeting


A public meeting on the issue of black deaths in custody will be held at the London School of Economics Students Union (LSE SU), from 7.00-9.00pm on Wednesday 26 October 2011.


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rganised by Black Mental Health UK in association with the LSE SU, this event comes in the wake of a spate of incidents there young


black men have lost their lives at the hands of the police.


This public meeting marks the first steps to establish what action the community to ensure that this issue becomes a matter of priority for the present Government.


The disturbing case of Mark Duggan, whose shooting by police marks men in August this year, triggered the most serious scenes of civil unrest that have been seen across the country in a generation. Within weeks of Duggan’s shooting three other men lost their lives in police custody in situations which could have been avoided.


With the deaths of Reggae icon Smiley Culture, Kingsley Burrell-Brown and Demetre Fraser still at the forefront of the community’s consciousness, the issue of deaths in custody has now become one of national concern for black Britain.


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This public meeting aims to put this issue back on the political agenda in order to ensure that other vulnerable people do not continue to lose their lives in tragic circumstances, which could easily avoided.


The issue of deaths in custodyhas now become one of national concern for black Britain


‘I am speaking at this event because sadly my brother was part of that ratio of using mental health services and also being a black man. I live and breathe it and feel that the issue of black deaths in custody needs to be highlighted there is over whelming evidence over the higher numbers of black deaths and yet we are stifled from gaining justice. We have been struggling for decades with this issue, it not just black people in the 70’s who have had to deal with this. We are now seeing our children affected by this, it is too much for the community to bear and it be left unsaid,’ Marcia Rigg from the Sean Rigg Justice and Change campaign said.


Speakers include: Matilda MacAttram, director of Black Mental Health UK, Helen Shaw, co-Director, INQUEST, Samantha Rigg–David, Sean Rigg Justice and Change Campaign, Marica Rigg - Sean Rigg Justice and Change Campaign, Steve Pope, editor of The Voice Newspaper, Lee Jasper, Race Equality Campaigner, Ken Ferro , co-director of the film Injustice, Frederick Clarke, director Mighty Men of Valour and Olu Alake, President of 100 Black Men of London.


This event is free to attend but requires registration by e-mailing events@blackmen- talhealth.org.uk and putting Public Meeting in the header.


This public meeting on black deaths in custody is from 6.30 – 9.00pm on Wednesday 26the Oc- tober 2011 at The Quad, East Building, London School of Economics Students Union London WC2A 2AE


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