Count-me-in Report and Black Mental Health
Diane said: “Mental health has been a longstanding issue of concern in the black and ethnic minority communities. It is widely known that those from BME communities suffer significantly higher rates of detention. This report confirms what I, and mental health organisations, have warned about for years. There is a real inequity in the way our mental health system deals with black people.”
Diane continued: “I find it disturbing that African and Caribbean people are three times more likely than the rest of the population to be admitted to mental health hospitals and to be detained under the Mental Health Act. I hope this report will add pressure on the Government to rethink some of the provisions set out in the redrafted Mental Health Bill.”
She went on: “I have reservations about the Mental Health Bill because, as it stands, it will do little to reduce the current discrimination faced by black patients. In particular, I am concerned about the new much looser definition of mental illness. For example, provisions to detain someone for ‘appearing dangerous’, has the potential to make current racial inequalities much worse, particularly given racial stereotyping which tends to discriminate against black men in this regard.”
Diane continued: “This survey is the most comprehensive of its kind and it is certainly to be welcomed. However, the census does not provide any explanations to its worrying findings. Therefore, much more has to be done. I urge the government to look into this as a matter of urgency.”
Diane added: “I have already had a series of meetings with top Department of Health officials, senior practitioners and community activists to highlight these issues. Next year I will be launching an initiative to examine whether the proposed government changes to alleviate the situation are working in practice. This initiative will scrutinise the impact of the proposed law on the African and Caribbean communities in particular.”
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