The Sainsbury Centre has been reviewing mental health services to African and Caribbean communities. Reviews the report.
The Sainsbury Centre has been reviewing mental health services to African and Caribbean communities. Reviews the report.
Subject terms:
mental health problems, mental health services, social care provision, African Caribbean people, African people, black and minority ethnic people, communities;
Health and Social Care in the Community, 12(5), September 2004, pp.439-447.
Publisher:
Wiley
The relationships between black communities and the mental health (MH) services are fraught. Paradoxically, black communities receive the MH services they don't want, but not the ones they do or might want. Black people mistrust and often fear services, and staff are often wary of the black community, fearing criticism, and not knowing how to respond, are fearful of black people, in particular, young black men. The situation is fuelled by prejudice, misunderstanding, misconceptions and sometimes racism. The present paper describes the findings of a study to explore the issues in greater depth. The study was premised on a belief that there are 'circles of fear' which lead to poorer treatment of black communities. A purposive sampling approach was used to seek out groups and individuals in whom the 'circles of fear' were likely to be evident. The findings suggest that there are fears which impact negatively on the interaction between black communities and MH services. Two major themes emerged in this study, i.e. the sources of fear and the consequences of fear. Sources of fear included perceptions of MH services, attitudes to mental illness and diagnosis, and experiences of hospital care. The impact of fear included limited trust, limited engagement and delayed help-seeking behaviour. The study concludes that these fears mar the interactions between these communities and MH services, affect help-seeking behaviour adversely, and lead to restrictive and punitive interventions. Progress will only be made in breaking the 'circles of fear' if there is a systematic change in the experience of black services users at each point in the care pathway.
The relationships between black communities and the mental health (MH) services are fraught. Paradoxically, black communities receive the MH services they don't want, but not the ones they do or might want. Black people mistrust and often fear services, and staff are often wary of the black community, fearing criticism, and not knowing how to respond, are fearful of black people, in particular, young black men. The situation is fuelled by prejudice, misunderstanding, misconceptions and sometimes racism. The present paper describes the findings of a study to explore the issues in greater depth. The study was premised on a belief that there are 'circles of fear' which lead to poorer treatment of black communities. A purposive sampling approach was used to seek out groups and individuals in whom the 'circles of fear' were likely to be evident. The findings suggest that there are fears which impact negatively on the interaction between black communities and MH services. Two major themes emerged in this study, i.e. the sources of fear and the consequences of fear. Sources of fear included perceptions of MH services, attitudes to mental illness and diagnosis, and experiences of hospital care. The impact of fear included limited trust, limited engagement and delayed help-seeking behaviour. The study concludes that these fears mar the interactions between these communities and MH services, affect help-seeking behaviour adversely, and lead to restrictive and punitive interventions. Progress will only be made in breaking the 'circles of fear' if there is a systematic change in the experience of black services users at each point in the care pathway.
Subject terms:
mental health problems, mental health services, racial discrimination, racism, social care provision, anxiety, black and minority ethnic people, health care;
Argues that mental health services have been slower to address inequalities than other health sectors and that this is exacerbating the problem of mental illness in the capital. As a result, services are less likely to be accessible to women from black and minority ethnic groups (BME). The paper found that services were particularly inaccessible to refugees and asylum seekers, which is compounded by the fact that staff are insufficiently equipped to assess the specific needs of these groups. Furthermore, staff are often not aware of the rights of refugees and asylum seekers to health and social care services which influences how they respond to calls for help from these communities. Race equality in mental health services has been prominent in recent policy developments at a national level, but locally, services for black and minority ethnic people with mental health problems are often basic, insensitive and piecemeal. This, it says, can contribute to an increase in alienation and isolation. The report also states that the experience and heritage of specific communities - including refugees, Irish, Asian, Chinese, Jewish, African and Afro-Caribbean people - and the impact of racism and other forms of oppression, need to be acknowledged and better understood. It found that the Irish community - the largest white minority group in London - has marked differences in levels of mental illness compared with other white groups. Compared to any other group, Irish people, and particularly Irish women, have the highest overall psychiatric admission rates, highest rates of admission for depression and alcohol abuse, and significant under-use of statutory community based resources.
Argues that mental health services have been slower to address inequalities than other health sectors and that this is exacerbating the problem of mental illness in the capital. As a result, services are less likely to be accessible to women from black and minority ethnic groups (BME). The paper found that services were particularly inaccessible to refugees and asylum seekers, which is compounded by the fact that staff are insufficiently equipped to assess the specific needs of these groups. Furthermore, staff are often not aware of the rights of refugees and asylum seekers to health and social care services which influences how they respond to calls for help from these communities. Race equality in mental health services has been prominent in recent policy developments at a national level, but locally, services for black and minority ethnic people with mental health problems are often basic, insensitive and piecemeal. This, it says, can contribute to an increase in alienation and isolation. The report also states that the experience and heritage of specific communities - including refugees, Irish, Asian, Chinese, Jewish, African and Afro-Caribbean people - and the impact of racism and other forms of oppression, need to be acknowledged and better understood. It found that the Irish community - the largest white minority group in London - has marked differences in levels of mental illness compared with other white groups. Compared to any other group, Irish people, and particularly Irish women, have the highest overall psychiatric admission rates, highest rates of admission for depression and alcohol abuse, and significant under-use of statutory community based resources.
Subject terms:
Irish people, social isolation, Jewish people, mental health problems, mental health services, race relations, racial discrimination, severe mental health problems, social care provision, training, women, access to services, anti-racist practice, black and minority ethnic people;
ROBERTSON David, SATHYAMOORTHY Ganesh, FORD Richard
Journal article citation:
Community Care, 11.3.99, 1999, pp.24-25.
Publisher:
Reed Business Information
The authors say that in order to help black mental health service users, professionals must understand their culture.
The authors say that in order to help black mental health service users, professionals must understand their culture.
Subject terms:
mental health problems, multicultural approach, needs, older people, religions, service users, social care provision, staff, training, black and minority ethnic people, communication, cultural identity;