RACISM IN MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT

Racism in Mental Health Treatment

Racism in Mental Health Treatment

Introduction

The David Bennett Inquiry was held in the UK after the death of David "Rocky" Bennett on 30 October 1998 in a medium secure psychiatric unit in Norwich after being restrained by staff. David Bennett was a 38 year old African-Caribbean patient, who had suffered mental illness for 18 years, and had a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Black men are five times more likely to be detained by the authorities (under the 1983 Mental Health legislation) than white men. The inquiry concluded that this is due to institutional racism within the mental health services.

This paper critically evaluates whether this indicates that no progress has been made in relation to the quality of treatment for mentally vulnerable individuals from minority groups. A recent report by the College of Psychiatrists has revealed that little progress has been made in improving mental health services for black and minority ethnic (BME) older people over the last eight years.

Public Part of the Inquiry

Health Minister Rosie Winterton is claiming that Black and minority ethnic people with mental health problems will benefit from better care from the NHS and social services, thanks to a new blueprint for reform just launched.

Delivering Race Equality in Mental Health Care, an action plan for reform both inside and outside NHS mental health services over the next five years, is being published together with the Government's response to the independent inquiry into the death of David Bennett who died in 1998 whilst being restrained in a psychiatric ward.

Young black men are six times more likely to be compulsorily detained than the national average.

Rosie Winterton said:

"We know what the problems are.

There are significant and unacceptable inequalities in the access to mental health services that black and minority ethnic patients have, in their experience of those services, and in the outcome of those services.

Rates of compulsory admission are significantly higher for black and minority ethnic groups.

Average lengths of stay in hospital are longer.

BME patients are more likely than white people to be prescribed drugs or ECT rather than psychotherapy or counselling.

All this fuels the "circle of fear" that can deter BME patients from seeking early treatment for their illness.

We've made some progress, but not enough. Now we have a clear and comprehensive action plan for making sure that progress continues and accelerates.

I'm very grateful to Sir John Blofeld and the other members of the inquiry team for their thorough and helpful report into David Bennett's death."

Plan which was Never Implemented

The plan provided by the health minister includes following action statements which were never put in to implementation.

* PCTS providing more responsive services based on the needs of the local population, helped by local demographic data;

* NHS trusts being assessed by the Healthcare Commission on their performance in challenging discrimination and providing equality of access;

* a new commitment to reduce the disproportionate rates of compulsory detention of black and ethnic minority mental health patients and preventing deaths in mental health services following physical intervention;

* new ...