Saheliya is a Black and Minority Ethnic Women's Mental Health organisation, established in July, 1992.

We aim to provide a safe and confidential service that supports the mental health and well-being of Black and Minority Ethnic women in Edinburgh. We believe that there are a number of factors in the lives of our client group which can contribute to stress, anxiety and depression. Some of these factors are:

• isolation

• racism

• unemployment

• abuse

• ill health

• bereavement

• relationship issues

To maintain and support the mental wellbeing of Black and Minority Ethnic women, Saheliya offers a range of services for both prevention and support. These services include:

Counselling: Provided by trained, BAC registered counsellors in English and a variety of Minority Ethnic languages.

Group Support: A progamme of weekly issue based and activity based groups. Past topics/activities have included yoga, creative writing, photography, various health promotion talks, parenting, issues of identity, and trips out.

Issue based groups offer a safe place to discuss relevant issues with other women.

Befriending: Volunteer Befrienders provide 'social support' to women who are experiencing isolation. Volunteers are from minority ethnic communities, and provide befriending in English and a variety of minority languages. They offer home and/or hospital visits, as well as outings.

Befrienders are trained and supported by staff at Saheliya.

Complementary Therapies: Weekly appointments for massage, reflexology, aromatherapy, or reiki are available, in the office and at two other locations in Edinburgh.

Saheliya also provides one to one support and advocacy.

Members of the staff team speak Cantonese, Urdu, Punjabi, Bengali, Arabic and Singhilese.

All services are free of charge to Black and Minority Ethnic women living in Edinburgh. A creche is available for children under 5.

Saheliya staff also provide training and consultancy for other organisations on issues relating to minority ethnic women's lives, race and culture, equal opportunities and a variety of issues which support organisations to improve their service delivery for minority ethnic communities.