Overview

What lies behind London's youth violence crisis? What is its impact on the mental health of its victims? How are their families and the wider community affected? Mental health nurse Dorcas Gwata has worked closely with vulnerable young people involved in the knife crime, sexual exploitation, drug use and poor mental health that are associated with gangs. In The Street Clinic, she invites us to accompany her in her work with those exposed to gang violence by virtue of where they live. By meeting young people on the street and on their terms, Dorcas demonstrates that with care and support it is possible for young people to work through trauma, depression and anxiety and towards recovery and a better future. Drawing on her own experiences of loss and social injustice, and twenty-five years on the NHS frontline, Dorcas offers a bird's-eye view of London: its multicultural population, wealth inequalities, tireless healthcare professionals, and an NHS that doesn't always work for everyone. Exploring some uncomfortable truths about British society, The Street Clinic is a story of vulnerability, but also of resilience, strength and, ultimately, hope.

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9781035006915

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Reviews

Beautifully written, Nurse Dorcas does not let us pretend these youths are invisible. Anyone who cares about humankind will be enlightened, or perhaps shocked, but touched by these stories of struggling youth and their families, being helped through bold and caring interventions of the street clinic. -- Pam Cipriano, President of the International Council of Nursing A fascinating perspective on why young people join gangs and carry knives. While the rest of us are worrying about it, Dorcas Gwata is doing something. -- HHJ Wendy Joseph, bestselling author of <i>Unlawful Killings</i> This is the book we didn't know we were missing and, now that it exists, it feels impossible to imagine understanding contemporary Britain, or the NHS, without it. Dorcas Gwata has given us an essential text, in every sense of that word. NHS leaders must read it. Learn from it. Let it change what you think is possible. -- Ade Adeyemi MBE Gwata's case study-led account of treating young people on the fringes of gang crime twists and turns as it tells their stories . . . handled with curiosity and dedication. * Therapy Today *

Beautifully written, Nurse Dorcas does not let us pretend these youths are invisible. Anyone who cares about humankind will be enlightened, or perhaps shocked, but touched by these stories of struggling youth and their families, being helped through bold and caring interventions of the street clinic. -- Pam Cipriano, President of the International Council of Nursing A fascinating perspective on why young people join gangs and carry knives. While the rest of us are worrying about it, Dorcas Gwata is doing something. -- Wendy Joseph, bestselling author of <i>Unlawful Killings</i>

Author Information

Dorcas Gwata began her working life in the UK as an NHS hospital cleaner and is now an award-winning mental health nurse, a Global Mental Health Consultant and an Adviser at Global Health Partnerships. She is an Accident and Emergency specialist nurse and has worked within multi-agency teams in the UK and with global health partnerships focusing on Africa and Asia. Her work with young people and families affected by gang culture in London grew out of innovative evidence-based research in low-income countries extrapolated to high-income countries, improving mental health outcomes in vulnerable groups whilst addressing health inequalities in the UK.

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