Ethnic bias in the application of the Mental Health Act 1983

Abstract

There is evidence pointing to a bias in the application of the Mental Health Act 1983 (which is in force in England and Wales). One study found that Black people on in-patient units were four times more likely to have been compulsorily admitted than White people. Furthermore, it has been shown that compulsory admissions to secure units are 2.9-5.6 times higher for Black than for White patients. Any understanding of this bias necessitates an examination of the attitudes of mental health professionals towards Africans and African-Caribbeans. Here we discuss possible contributory factors and examine a number of initiatives that have been instituted in order to tackle this problem.