Racism In Mental Health Care Essay

Is it fair to say that racism exists within mental health services? Qualify your answer To establish whether racism exists in mental health services, the definitions of race need to be truly understood. Ethnicity involves a common consciousness of shared traditions and origins whereas race categorises people by history, ethnicity, geographic ancestry and language. Therefore racism, is not based on ethnicity, but instead on unjustified racialisation of the body. (Ahmed, S. 2002), furthermore to discriminate is to treat someone unequally or differently. When finding an answer to the essay question, it is critical that these key concepts are understood so that a full and valid answer can be given as to whether racism exists. The aim of this essay is to look at the differences between ethnic minorities and

These races will include: Black Caribbean’s, Asians, and the Irish. Furthermore, the discussion will consider whether it is racism that causes the differences in mental health statistics between the ethnic minorities and the majority, or whether it is due to different circumstances, such as the stress of migration, or whether there is a genetical explanation for the differences in the rates and treatment for mental health.

The difference in referrals could be argued to display a racial divide between ethnic minorities and the majority, and indicate that racism does exist within mental health services. In self-referred services and out-patient services, black people are under-represented. (Littlewood & Cross 1980) When it comes to getting a diagnosis and visiting their local GP, black people are less likely to be referred for mental health problems. This could be due to institutional racism, in the fact that doctors are unconsciously discriminating black people and not giving them the correct help unlike white people. Black people have been more likely to be referred to a mental health service through passers-by.