News
Ethnicity and mental health: a new beginning
Article recommendation from Benjamin Taylor, The Public Service Transformation Academy CEO
Very exciting stuff. In SW London, with the Wandsworth Community Empowerment Network central, there is a whole-system approach to mental health care which is seeking to ameliorate historical inequitable racial outcomes not justified by extrinsic factors (massively higher number of BME people in coercive and other high-impact care, failure to address drivers behind this), through an approach which is both community and institution led, focused on prioritising access to trained, qualified mental health support in the community, by the community.
Quotes below and I recommend the very short article (registration but no fee required).
Ethnicity and mental health: a new beginning, S P Sashidharan & Malik Gul
Published:January 20, 2020, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(19)30514-0
“Black and minority ethnic (BME) people do not do as well as the white majority in any aspect of mental health care and, generally, they fare much worse.The nature and extent of racial discrimination in mental health care has been known for over half a century. Over the years, however, there has been no change in the experiences of people from BME communities who use mental health services. Despite the continuing rhetoric on race and mental health, and more promises of change,there is no parity between BME communities and the white majority in access, experience, or outcomes of mental health care.”
“The problems are already well understood, and despite the complexity of underlying issues, it is clear what changes are required. For example, a wealth of evidence exists that is based on the experience of service users and the black communities, and many examples of what works for the benefit of patients and their families… [m]ost crucially, the BME communities and agencies are engaged and willing to work with statutory providers to bring about change.”
“The Ethnicity and Mental Health Improvement Project (EMHIP) in Wandsworth, southwest London, UK, is an attempt to bridge the gap between policy rhetoric and practice. EMHIP is a collaborative project involving the local mental health service, South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust (SWLSTG), and a BME community mental health organisation, Wandsworth Community Empowerment Network (WCEN). WCEN has been at the forefront of challenging the unjust patters of mental health care in southwest London as well as mobilising resources and creating networks in the local community.”“it has become clear that fundamental reconfiguration and changes in the mental health system, both inside (ie, in the formal mental health system) and outside (ie, in the community), are necessary to bring about any improvement.”
“a practical, whole-system intervention programme will be developed and adapted for the purpose through a process of coproduction, involving service providers, service users, and BME communities locally.”“The project combines an inside and outside approach through equal participation and commitment from statutory care providers, community agencies, and the wider community.”
via Ethnicity and mental health: a new beginning – The Lancet Psychiatry