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 30 August 2008 12:48 BST

Minority mental health risk

Thursday, 06 Dec 2007 17:20
Some ethnic groups have significantly higher rates of mental illness

Health In Focus 

Some black and minority ethnic groups are three times more likely than average to be admitted as inpatients in mental health and learning disability services.

That is one of the findings from a census jointly conducted by the Healthcare Commission, the Mental Health Act Commission (MHAC) and the National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIHME).

The study revealed that some ethnic groups have significantly higher rates of mental illness.

It is thought that the differences in rates of mental illness and hospital admission are due to numerous and complex factors including socioeconomic issues, living alone and family and social support.

The groups behind the census say the findings emphasise the need for agencies to work together to prevent and better manage mental illness in black and ethnic minority groups.

Groups who need to be involved include GPs, local authorities and the criminal justice system.

Other areas of concern highlighted by the census include 68 per cent of mental health inpatients being treated in mixed-sex wards - raising questions about privacy, dignity and safety.

Healthcare Commission chief executive Anna Walker stressed the need for accurate data on mental health and the importance of working with local agencies and mental health and learning disability organisations.

"With their knowledge, we can begin to look at the problems within the communities and bring together local agencies to tackle the issues that cause some black and minority ethnic groups to have higher rates of mental illness," she added.

"We need to be looking at prevention and better access to services in the community, not just admission to hospital when people become seriously ill."

MHAC chairman Professor Lord Patel commented: "The census demonstrated why it had been necessary to fight so hard for the [delivering race equality programme]. DRE in mental health services remains an essential corner stone of the government's programme to eradicate racial inequality and to provide culturally relevant services," he said.

"I am deeply concerned about the continued high levels of admission detention suffered by some black groups especially the black other group – mostly black second and third generation young men. There are some very serious questions that need answering about the way these people are being treated."
End of story


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