BMH:UK: Count Me In Census 2007 findings confirms race equality campaigners worst fears

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Monday, 10, Dec 2007 12:00

Commenting on the Healthcare Commission's census, Matilda MacAttram director of Black Mental Health UK, a human rights campaigns group said:

'These latest findings are hugely disturbing and very bad news for anyone working to address inequalities in healthcare.

The purpose of these census' was to establish where there is an over representation of black patients and then work towards addrssing this. Every year the census findigns show that the situation is getting worse despite experts and community leaders advice to Government what is needed to resolve this.

We need to see political commitment at the highest level to root out the intuitional racism within mental health services that is causing this over representation, and dedicated ring fenced funding on initiatives that are working, if we are to see a change.

This is more than just a health issue, for the families and patients from African Caribbean communities it is also a human rights issue. At a time when admission of people on mental health wards has fallen overall from 33,785 in 2005 to 31,187 in 2007 we are seeing an increase in the numbers of black patients being sectioned.

The Census report said that some ethnic groups have significantly higher rates of mental illness, the question has to be raised - how people from ethnic minorities are treated once in the system?

Almost ten years after David Bennett's death this census shows that black men are more likely to be forcibly restrained and placed in seclusion than any other ethnic group.

The David Bennett inquiry report recommendations make it very clear what needs to be done to address the intuitional racism with mental health services and avoid the tragic loss of more lives. Those at the highest level need to commit to taking this on board if we are to see a change.'

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