Background

The UK experience reveals that it is in the field of forensic psychiatry that racial injustices and cultural oppression are felt most acutely by African Caribbean service users.

People from Black and minority ethnic (BME) groups suffer poorer health, have reduced life expectancy and have greater problems with access to health care than the majority White population.

Inequality in mental health services between Black people and the majority White population has been the subject of ongoing debate and study for decades. It is well documented that people from BME communities and African Caribbean's in particular fare worse under the British mental health system.

There is a history of misunderstanding and discrimination when it comes to the use of compulsory powers against African Caribbean's. Black people mistrust and often fear services, and staff are often wary of the Black community, fearing criticism and not knowing how to respond.  

BEM experience of Mental Health Services

Rates of admission into hospital are three or more times higher for black and white-black mixed groups compared with the average.

Black groups are up to 44% more likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act compared to the average. 4% of patients were referred.

The risk of being referred to mental health services by police or by the courts is almost double for Black Caribbean and Black African groups.

Men from the Black Caribbean, Black African, Other Black and Indian groups were about 50% more likely than average to be secluded.

8% of inpatients had experienced one or more incidents of control and restraint. The rate was 29% higher than the average for Black Caribbean men.

All figures taken from the Mental Health and Ethnicity Census 2005.

Statistics on Black Mental Health in the UK

•   10% of mental health inpatients

• 3% of the general population, according to the 2001 census
• 50% more likely to be placed in seclusion
• 29% more likely to be subject to control and restraint
• 44% more likely to be sectioned under the 1983 Mental Health Act
• 50% more likely to be referred through the criminal justice system
• 14% more likely to be turned away than white people when they ask for help from MH services
• Referral the psychiatric services by the Police is almost double for Black Caribbean and Black African
• Referral through the courts is almost double in the Black African and Caribbean's
  

Source: Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection (2005) Count Me In, Results of a national census of 'in patients' in mental health hospitals and facilities in England and Wales

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