Stephen Lawrence Day: Honouring a legacy, advancing our responsibility
Stephen Lawrence Day is a time for reflection, learning and action. At South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, colleagues gathered to mark the occasion by examining the ongoing impact of Stephen Lawrence’s murder, the development of the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation, and what it means for our work today in addressing racial inequality within healthcare.
Recognising a legacy and the work still to be done
Jide Ashimi, Chair of the BME Network, kicked off the event by reflecting on how the murder of Stephen Lawrence, and the subsequent Macpherson Report, brought institutional racism in the police force into sharp national focus - triggering long-overdue reforms across the public services.
However, he emphasised that the work remains far from complete. He noted systemic racism is not a thing of the past; disproportionate outcomes for Black and racially diverse communities remain a persistent and deeply rooted reality across public services today.
Jide also acknowledged the contributions of individuals - such as Stephen’s mother, Baroness Doreen Lawrence, Aji Lewis (mother of Seni Lewis) Marcia Rigg (sister of Sean Rigg), and Jacqui Dyer, whose loss and sustained commitment have been central to driving change - often involving significant personal effort and sacrifice. Their work lays a foundation that will continue to guide and motivate our ongoing efforts.
Reflecting on the event’s theme ‘Tragedy to Transformation’, Jide shared a powerful message. He stated, “we do not have to wait for another tragedy to galvanise us into further action” and to recognise that “it is within our gift collectively to take action.” He called on all of us to play a role: “Each of us can contribute to this effort by educating ourselves, speaking out against injustice, and supporting initiatives that promote racial equity.” His message challenges us to reflect deeply and act intentionally - moving beyond reflection to actively championing social justice.
Racism as a public health crisis
We also heard from Shania Ruddock, Deputy Director on PCREF – our Trust’s Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework. She offered a clear message: “Racism is not only a social issue, but a public health crisis”.
She explained how racism has a profound effect on mental health - contributing to elevated rates of anxiety, depression and psychosis among Black and racialised communities.
She emphasised the importance of trauma-informed, anti-racist approaches to care. In clinical settings, the stress and trauma experienced by Black patients is often misinterpreted as aggression or risk which can lead to disproportionate responses, including increased surveillance, coercive interventions, or misdiagnosis. In her words, these are “systemic patterns that require institutional reckoning”.
She believes that building genuine partnerships with racially diverse communities, through meaningful co-production rather than tokenistic consultation, is essential to delivering equitable care. She said: “We do this work not just for compliance, but for justice”.
From strategy to action
The group acknowledged that many individuals accessing our services have already been affected by systemic inequalities before they arrive at our doors. As a mental health provider, we have a responsibility not to compound those harms and our services must be culturally informed, safe and equitable.
The discussion also underscored the need for implementation. While our strategies and frameworks provide important direction, they must be backed by practical, measurable action.
Pam Feurtado, Membership Officer of the BME Network, pointed out, our anti-racism strategy must evolve from a “document” into “living frameworks” that guide daily practice. Rather than responding to the outcomes of racial inequality we must address the root causes by embedding anti-racism into the very foundation of how we design and deliver care. This requires visible and sustained commitment from senior leadership - through dedicated resources, clear accountability and by making anti-racism a strategic priority across the organisation.
A call for accountability and change
Stephen Lawrence’s death brought institutional racism in the police force into the national spotlight. On Stephen Lawrence Day, our BME Network and PCREF colleagues made a call for us to examine the systems within our own organisation. This requires open, honest dialogue - and a willingness to take genuine action. While we may not have created these systems of disadvantage, we are all living within them and share a responsibility to confront the consequences.
Justice shouldn’t be the burden of a few, but rather a collective duty that demands our ongoing action and accountability. We’re working toward ensuring that this commitment is reflected in our daily practices, our relationships with communities and in the way we deliver care.
