Report identifies mental health inequality

Black people are three times more likely to be admitted to mental health hospitals as the rest of the population, a new report has found.

The Healthcare Commission report, which covered almost 34,000 mental health inpatients in England and Wales, also found that black African and Caribbean people were 44% more likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act and, once in hospital, were more likely to experience seclusion or physical restraint.

The study follows an inquiry into the death of patient David Bennett, who died in Norwich in 1998, after being restrained. The report, chaired by Sir John Blofeld, suggested that there was “institutional racism” in the NHS.

The Healthcare Commission’s report found that 9% of mental health inpatients were black, despite the fact that the ethnic group represented only 3.2% of the population.

Black groups were also up to 44% more likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act – where people are diagnosed as seriously ill and are admitted to hospital for their own safety.

People from Black African and Black Caribbean groups were also almost twice as likely to be referred for treatment by the courts. Black men were also 50% more likely to be placed in seclusion, while Black Caribbean men were 29% more likely to be subjected to control or restraint.

Sir Ian Kennedy, Healthcare Commission Chairman, said: “This census demands an explanation. It does not provide one. The job of discovering the reasons behind the data must be undertaken with urgency.

“It would be wrong and intolerable if someone were categorised as mentally ill and hospitalised solely on the basis of colour or ethnic origin.

“It would be equally wrong and intolerable if someone who is mentally ill and would benefit from care in hospital did not have that benefit because those charged with such decisions were anxious that they may be accused of racial prejudice.”

Health officials also said that they were “particularly worried” by the number of black people coming to mental health services through the criminal justice system and urged people to seek help at an early stage, so that they could begin to resolve issues before they reached crisis point.

Angela Greatley, Chief Executive of the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health, said: “This is a glaring inequality in health care. African and Caribbean people are being admitted to hospital as a first resort before other courses of action are considered.”

However, Health Minister Rosie Winterton said: “Racism or discrimination in any form have no place in modern health or social care.

“The results of the census will act as a benchmark for measuring our progress in ending those inequalities.”

(KMcA/SP)