Zimbabwean Woman Champions Mental Health: Wins BAME Award

By Ilyana Sithole

In a major development in the field of mental health awareness, Salome Mare-Walsh, psychotherapist and founder of Salowal Limited in the United Kingdom, has been accorded the 2024 Knowsley Business Award in the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) category. This award was in recognition of her commitment toward addressing mental health issues at the grassroots level, dismantling stigma, and offering culturally competent support.

A Mission Driven by Compassion
Salome is the founder, director, and psychotherapist at Salowal Limited, dedicated to individualized mental health and wellbeing services throughout her career. Her company is not limited to individual practice but extends towards the betterment of wellbeing in workplaces; hence, she is very valuable in the industry for individuals and organizations alike.

“My goal is to enable people to confront their challenges head-on, with no fear of stigma or stereotyping,” Salome says. “I want to provide an environment where one is safe to seek help.” This mission is so imperative in a society where mental health issues are often overlooked or stigmatized, especially within the BAME communities.

Service Offerings for Individuals
Salowal Limited provides a range of services that are specifically put together for individuals dealing with mental health issues, such as stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, and self-esteem. It nurtures recovery and growth through the use of evidence-based practices, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, mindfulness, and trauma-informed care.

Another strong point of Salowal’s approach is that this model emphasizes culturally sensitive therapy: The unique cultural backgrounds are recognized and integrated into their set of treatment plans, thereby significantly enhancing the effectiveness of their therapy. According to Salome, it is the understanding of the client in their cultural context that facilitates appropriate help.

The organization has also made online therapy available, through which one can access its services from any part of the world. This is very important in cases where one may be unable to get culturally competent care in the local vicinity. “Our approach is about meeting people where they are, both physically and emotionally,” Salome says. Being able to connect with clients remotely has proved to be quite a game-changer, especially now during the pandemic when mental health issues have surged.

Supporting Organisations
Complementing individual support, Salowal works inside organisations to improve wellbeing in work settings. The organisation has challenged the barriers to mental health through anti-racism training, workplace cultures that include. Services encompassed workshops for staff wellbeing, reviewing policies, and consultancy to support diverse teams.

Creating an inclusive environment is key to employee satisfaction and productivity,” Salome notes. In helping organizations build resilient cultures, Salowal is working toward reducing absenteeism and fostering a sense of belonging for all employees. This holistic approach benefits not only the individual employee but also contributes toward a more positive and productive workplace as a whole.

Life-Changing Impact
Salowal Limited has been a life changer for many clients; clients have experienced changes that occur deep inside a person’s life through the services offered. This commitment of the organization to providing a safe and supportive environment has empowered individuals to confront their mental health challenges and emerge stronger.

A strong testimony to this impact is given by Kofi(pseudonym): “With Salome’s guidance, I overcame severe anxiety, depression, and past trauma. I found my footing again and learned to live with self-respect, joy, and hope toward the future.” His story is one among several that relate how Salowal foments resiliency and personal growth.

Salome’s clients usually appreciate her empathetic, individualized approach. Tanaka (pseudonym) recalls, “Salome is a skillful, sensitive professional who immediately creates a warm, trusting therapeutic alliance; highly recommended.

Viviane (pseudonym) reminisces about this journey of her: “I can’t emphasize how wonders this therapist has worked on me. She was flexible since I work full time, patient, concentrated, and shook me up nicely. I wouldn’t be ever able to return Salome for helping me and trusting me anyway.

Salome Mare-Walsh: A Brief Bio
Salome Mare Walsh is a professional psychotherapist and founder of Improvepsyche with Salowal Limited. She works with private clients, private sector organizations, the NHS, and social services. Salome is an accredited Cognitive Analytic Therapist (CAT) and is currently in training to become a CAT Supervisor. She is also a Registered Mental Health Nurse with over 16 years of experience, an EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapist, and a practitioner of Mentalisation Based Treatment (MBT).

The specific focus of her practice is to help adults learn to regulate their emotions and cope better with trauma and relationships, particularly for individuals identifying with the global majority or from marginalized groups. Salome is passionate about culture, equality, diversity, and inclusion. Hopefully, you find me compassionate, skilful, and supportive,” she says. A commitment to five-star service resonates in the reviews left by her clients on the booking website.

Salome offers online consultations and is always open to hearing from people – a testament if any to her dedication to constantly improving and striving to make sure her customers feel their needs are met and concerns heard.

Raising Awareness of Mental Health in BAME Communities
Mental health issues are common in all communities, but for BAME individuals, the challenges to seeking help are many. Cultural stigma, lack of representation in mental health services, and even language barriers stand in the way of many getting the help they need. Salowal Limited was set up to address these inequalities by providing culturally relevant and accessible mental health services.

Salome encourages readers to be more proactive regarding mental well-being, either for themselves or close ones. “It’s about breaking the silence around mental health, particularly in BAME communities,” she says. “To seek help is to show strength, not weakness.”

The most precious thing Salowal Ltd. can provide is surely empowering people in their psychological wellbeing. These are some of the several amenities and services the company is involved in providing. Other client testimonials can be searched for on the website [www.improvepsyche.com](http://www.improvepsyche.com).

Looking Ahead
As Salowal Limited prepares for 2025, the organization is committed to maintaining its reputation for excellence while expanding its services. Plans are in place to grow the team and engage corporate clients, ensuring that even more individuals and organizations can benefit from their expertise.

Salowal Limited is not just a mental health service provider; it is a community lifeline, dedicated to fostering emotional resilience and inclusivity. Under Salome Mare-Walsh’s leadership, the organization continues to make significant strides in empowering BAME communities and creating a supportive environment for all.

Through her work, Salome is not only changing lives one session at a time but also paving the way for a more inclusive and understanding society. For more information about Salowal Limited and its services, visit [www.improvepsyche.com](http://www.improvepsyche.com).