BAME Communities & Mental Health

Almost 20% of the population of England and Wales are Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities. BAME covers a very diverse range of people, cultures, experiences and ethnicities. There has been widely reported cases of inequalities when gaining access to mental health services for many of these communities.

Understanding the reason why this inequality exists can help us as members of society to raises awareness, support our friends and family and put pressure on service leaders to be more inclusive.

BAME Communities face individual challenges within society which can result in difficulties in accessing health services and a negative impact on mental health:

• Racial discrimination

• Poverty

• Stigma around mental health

• Neglect in the criminal justice system

• ‘Eurocentric’ therapy models

It’s also essential to discuss the intersectional issues such as gender, sexuality, disability and age and how they factor in, compounding all of the above challenges

For more information and support:

Mind – Your local Mind provides mental health advice, unique and tailored to the communities they serve in England and Wales.

South Asian Health Foundation – promotes improvements in the quality of healthcare to south Asians across the UK.

The Chinese Mental Health Association – represents Chinese mental health issues and provides direct services.

The Ubele Initiative – creates innovative solutions for some of the most pressing social, economic and political concerns affecting the African Diaspora community in the UK.

Spark&Co – resources to support the mental health and wellbeing of BAME communities, amongst other issues.