BALM resources were mainly designed to encourage meaningful, intergenerational dialogue. You can use them with family members, friends, or any member of your community that you trust or wish to create a bond with. You can also use them to connect with a stranger. You decide. It's in your hands.

You are free to choose the theme or questions you want to discuss, but before you start, we recommend you check how the speaker is doing by asking general questions about how they are feeling, what is on their minds, what they have been doing to keep them busy lately or what are their plans for the upcoming days, etc.

Thank you so much for enquiring about supporting this project. We would love for you to get involved. BALM was created with the support of Voluntary Services Lewisham. We specifically encourage applicants of Afro-Caribbean descent to enroll as volunteers. Follow the link below or contact hello@balmproject.co.uk to get more details.

While we encourage the use of resources, therapy and/or counselling are still important treatments in ensuring your mental wellbeing. Have a look at our DIRECTORY, you’ll find a carefully curated list of all the services offered in the borough.

Yes, you can still access the resources even though they’re tailored for the Afro-Caribbean experience. However, if you happen to not be able to answer a question from the cards, or your ability to answer feels limited, stop and ask yourself why that might be. Take the opportunity to reflect on your identity and the role it plays in your lived experience.

If you are not Black or of Afro-Caribbean heritage and wish to contribute, the first thing you must do is put in the work to understand how anti-blackness manifests in your communities, in your relationships and in yourself. BALM is a platform that centres the wellbeing of Afro-Caribbean communities. While many Black people work tirelessly to dismantle harmful systems that we had no part in creating, we believe it is paramount for Black people to have a space to be, thrive and not just survive.

Stop the denial. Educate yourself. Accept discomfort. Put in the work. Be humble.

We believe this work is most impactful when it is self-directed, but we’ve provided two resources to get you started on your ongoing journey through anti-racism and active allyship. A concerted effort to develop your own understanding of the effect of racism on Black mental health is an imperative first step before you enroll as a volunteer.