Mental Health in the Black Community, by I.A.
There are still obstacles on the path to full racial equality in the UK. As we celebrate Black History Month to highlight the achievements and progress the black community has made over the years, here we reflect on some of the issues that still need addressing concerning the mental well-being within these communities. By raising awareness of these shortcomings, we hope be able to take action in phasing them out to ensure those in need of help will be able to access it and those in position to help them will be able to reach out.
Race-related inequalities affecting mental health
A report by the Race Equality Foundation has highlighted how black and minority ethnic communities are still facing inequalities in both their experiences on accessing mental health services and the outcomes of help they receive. They are still over-represented among people seeking help for certain mental health conditions and their ability to access these services, as well as the outcomes of the support they receive still has room for improvement.
Studies like the Race Disparities Report and research conducted by Public Health England (in 2017-2018) show black and minority ethnic communities are still at heightened risk of mental ill health and social shortcomings associated with mental illness. The reports also highlight how children and young people from black and minority ethnic communities are especially vulnerable to the impact of negative life experiences such as family breakdown, poverty, bereavement and everyday racism.
Barriers to Accessing Help Still Prevail
Studies by Mental Health Foundation have examined the reasons behind variations of outcomes in minority people accessing and receiving mental help. They show that while BAME communities face the same issues that may affect anybody’s mental health, they are additionally exposed to issues like racism, inequality and possible stigma of needing or seeking help for mental health matters.
The possibility of racial discrimination still lingers, ranging from subtle offensive comments to verbal or physical aggression. This is likely to generate extra stress for those seeking mental help and can further aggravate mental health problems. The studies point out that encountering racism can even increase the likelihood of more serious mental health problems, such as psychosis or depression.
Suspicion and Stigma Hindering Access to Help
Variations in the attitudes within different communities towards mental health matters may make people reluctant to seek help or stop them in their tracks altogether: Some communities may still see mental health issues as shameful or embarrassing, shying away from open discussion around the matter, even making people reluctant to talk about their struggles or seeking professional help. BAME people’s direct experiences of racism and exclusion within mental health services have also led to feelings of distrust towards the providers. Lack of visible action to tackle racist attitudes and lack of a person-centred approach have only contributed to these feelings. BAME people may also be less well informed about help being available or where to access it.
The stigma still lingering around mental health is named as one of the main barriers to accessing support for BAME communities: people may find it more difficult to recognise or admit they are suffering from mental ill-health, if mental health is rarely discussed or outright stigmatised in their community. BAME people may also be likely to rely on their family or friends for support rather than seeking professional help due to concerns over not being heard or understood by healthcare professionals or feeling that white healthcare professionals may fail to understand the impact of experiences of racism or discrimination.
Addressing the Diverse Needs of the BAME Community
There are great variations within the wider BAME community in terms of needs and experiences in seeking help. Those arriving to Britain as refugees and asylum seekers, for example, face completely different hurdles compared to people whose roots are more established in Britain. Those arriving from global crisis zones are more likely to suffer from anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder than the general population. Experience of migration itself is also highly stressful for many. On top of migration stress and cultural barriers, people coming from outside UK can also face further hurdles in being understood due to a language barrier.
When interacting with people from other cultures, healthcare professionals may also remain cautious in addressing people’s spiritual needs, which may affect the outcome of the care received. Some professionals feared that attention to religion could be seen as ‘unscientific’, or they simply lacked the time to explore these issues while engaging with patients. Sometimes confusing people’s racial, cultural and spiritual particularities with illness may also affect outcomes, leading to possible misdiagnosis and unsuitable treatments.
Making things get better
On the positive side, it must be pointed out that many of the studies into race and mental health are already more than a decade old. So there is a fair chance that improvement in access and the quality of care delivered is already taking place. Unfortunately, existing research still indicates the progress over the past 50 years has been slow. This is partially due to a medical culture that prioritises diagnosis and drug treatments, as well as still-existing racist attitudes within the care sector.
At Hillside we are doing our part by ensuring everyone within our own community will always feel welcome and that their diverse voices will be heard. Our mission is also to keep on raising awareness of the mental health issues affecting our communities, so that everyone can join in and do their share to ensure nobody feels left without the care and support they need.
References used for this article:
https://Raceequalityfoundation.org.uk
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/blogs/racism-and-mental-health
Ethnic minorities and mental health