Informing the Mental Health Strategy for England: call for evidence document

10 Aug 2026

Traveller Movement promotes inclusion for Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Traveller communities. TM has co-produced mental health resources for Mind and developed lived-experience-led CPD, creating culturally responsive models ready to scale through the Strategy. We challenge discrimination, improve service access, and co-produce research and interventions with these communities. 

This submission draws on: 

• Primary qualitative research: the Brent Health Needs Assessment (May 2026), comprising in-depth interviews with 17 Irish Traveller residents of the London Borough of Brent, conducted by The Traveller Movement in partnership with Brent Council. 

• National evidence: including the All-Ireland Traveller Health Study (2010), the NHS Race and Health Observatory report on Inequalities in Mental Health Care for ‘Gypsy, Roma and Traveller’ Communities (2023), Friends Families and Travellers’ briefings, and academic research from the University of Sheffield, UCL Institute of Health Equity, and others. 

• Sector expertise: our direct experience of delivering mental health advocacy, support, and community engagement across England. 

• Lived experience: the voices of community members who have generously shared their experiences of mental health, help-seeking, and service engagement.