Racism in U.K. mental health care
From Black Information Link:
African-Caribbeans are:
· 44% more likely to be sectioned.
· Twice as likely to be referred to mental health services through forensic services
· Detention rates for African-Caribbean’s are 25% -28% higher that that of white British groups.
· They are 70% less likely to be referred by their GP for counselling and other non-institutional help to recover.
· Referral rates by police are almost double that of white British groups.
· The use of control and restraint is 29% higher for Black inpatients.
· Seclusion rates are 50% higher.
Press Release: Black Leaders Launch Attack on Mental Health Bill
Comments
We need only look as far as New York to see the possibility of racism in the U.S. system.
Implementation of “Kendra’s Law” Is Severely Biased. April 7, 2005 by New York Lawyers for the Public Interest.
"Black people are almost five times as likely as White people to be subjected to this law ..." pg. 1, para. 2.
http://www.nylpi.org/pub/Kendras_Law_04-07-05.pdf
Posted by: Joe | January 29, 2006 09:50 AM