Black and minority ethnic mental health
Diverse Minds
Diverse Minds was set up in 1997 with support from the Department of Health in response to serious concerns raised by people from black and minority ethnic (BME) communities about the circumstances surrounding their experiences of mental healthcare in this country.
The 2008 Count Me In census revealed that overall rates of detention were higher than average among the black Caribbean, black African, other black and white/black Caribbean mixed groups by 20 to 36 per cent (Healthcare Commission, 2008). This is indicative of broader ethnic disparities within the mental health system, which affect all minority ethnic groups in a variety of ways.
Diverse Minds also works with refugee organisations and health providers across England and Wales to improve access to mental health support for refugees and asylum seeker communities.