Abstract
England and the other countries within the UK have seen different patterns of migration over the years. There is now a clear established link relating to the impact of migration on the mental health of some communities, especially those of black and ethnic minority origins. Patients from such communities seem to present with higher rates of severe mental disorders such as schizophrenia. They are less likely to access services voluntarily and have higher rates and longer detentions under the Mental Health Act. This problem is compounded by poorer clinical and social recovery outcomes. Various factors such as early adverse life experiences, social deprivation, stigma, racial, and institutional prejudices as well as a complex and negative relationship with services and authorities conspire to maintain this problem through generations. Recent calls for reforming the mental health legislation are unlikely to provide any significant benefits unless these are supplemented by a multipronged approach to reduce social inequalities and improve service provisions. These issues are discussed in this chapter.
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Gupta, S., Dinakaran, D., Athanas, E. (2021). Mental Health of Black and Minority Ethnic Communities in the UK and the Utilization of the Mental Health Legislation. In: Bhugra, D., Moussaoui, D., Ventriglio, A., Tribe, R. (eds) Mental Health, Mental Illness and Migration. Mental Health and Illness Worldwide. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-0750-7_30-1
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