People with mental health problems face issues such as stigma, finding or staying in employment and housing and fear of rejection by friends and family. This can be particularly true for people from black and minority ethnic (BME) communities. The BME community also face additional barriers and difficulties including accessing appropriate care and treatment that is culturally sensitive.

This leads to an over representation of some BME communities in acute mental health services at times of crisis. One in five mental health inpatients comes from a black and minority ethnic background, compared to about one in ten of the population as a whole (Department of Health, 2005).

The government is responding to the negative experiences and outcomes faced by BME communities through the Delivering Race Equality Agenda in Mental Health. This is a five year action plan aimed at improving experiences and outcomes for people from BME communities.

Psychiatry in the UK is usually based on a western understanding of mental illness, often using the medical model to treat the illness. Mental health means different things to different people and how we perceive mental health can be influenced by a range of factors including cultural, spiritual or religious belief and background. When services treat people from BME backgrounds it is important that a holistic approach and positive definitions of mental health are used and that there is recognition of alternative perspectives and understanding.

There are a number of organisations in Sheffield providing services to specific black and minority ethnic communities.

To see the March 2009 copy of the BME newsheet for health, supported housing and social care click here