1. How BME service users have experienced mental health services
Black service users in the UK are more likely to be:
- diagnosed as suffering from a major mental illness
- involved with the criminal justice system and forensic services
- prescribed medication that is over the recommended limits
- unable to gain access to psychology, psychotherapy or counselling services
- stereotyped by professionals in decisions about ‘dangerousness’.
People of Asian descent tend to be under-represented in the diagnosis of schizophrenia and over-represented in areas such as suicide and depression. This is particularly true for Asian women.
As a result of these experiences, which have been documented over more than 30 years, many BME people profoundly mistrust and generally have overwhelmingly negative experiences of mental health services.The Government has acknowledged that racism and discrimination play a significant role in our mental health services. For example, Rosie Winterton, the Minister of State for Health, said:
‘There are significant and unacceptable inequalities in the access to mental health services that BME patients have, in their experience of those services and in the outcome of those services. Rates of compulsory admission are significantly higher for BME groups. Average lengths of stay in hospital are longer. BME patients are more likely than white people to be prescribed drugs or ECT rather than psychotherapy or counselling. All this fuels the “circle of fear” that can deter BME patients from seeking early treatment for their illness.’
(January 2005)