Facts and figures about racism and mental health

Despite higher prevalence, Black adults have the lowest mental health treatment rate of any ethnic group, at 6% (compared to 13% in the White British group). 

Evidence suggests that people from Black Asian and Minority Ethnic communities are at higher risk of developing a mental health problem in adulthood. But they’re less likely to receive support for their mental health.

People from Black communities are more likely than average to experience a common mental health problem in any given week. 

Percentage experiencing a common mental health problem in the last week by ethnicity:    

• White British - 17% 
• White Other - 14% 
• Black and Black British - 23% 
• Asian and Asian British - 18% 
• Mixed and other - 20%"     

Black men are more likely to experience symptoms of psychosis than other ethnic groups (3.2% compared to 0.3% of White men and 1.3% of Asian men - using combined 2007 and 2014 data.) There is no significant variation by ethnic group among women.

8% of Black or Black British adults have symptoms relating to post-traumatic stress disorder compared with 4% of their White British counterparts.   

Boys from African and Caribbean communities in the UK have lower levels of mental health problems at age 11 compared to White or mixed heritage boys. 

However, national data shows that African and Caribbean men in the UK are much more likely to develop some types of mental health problem during adulthood. For example, symptoms relating to schizophrenia, and to a lesser extent post-traumatic stress disorder. This does not occur in countries with a predominantly Black population. It appears to be an environmental risk related to experiences in northern Europe and the United States.   

Black people are more likely to access treatment through a police or criminal justice route. Black and mixed Black groups are between 20% and 83% more likely to be referred from the criminal justice system than average.

A disproportionate number of people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities are detained under the Mental Health Act. Rates of detention for Black or Black British groups are over 4 times those of White groups. Community Treatment Orders for Black or Black British groups are over 10 times those of White groups.

Black people are more likely to be detained more than once.

Black people are more than 4 times more likely to be the subject of ‘restrictive interventions’ such as being restrained or held in isolation while in hospital.

Black and Black British women are more likely to experience a common mental health problem (29%) compared to White British women (21%) and non-British White women (16%). 

People from Black and Minority Ethnic groups living in the UK are more likely to:  

• Be diagnosed with a psychotic disorder. However no difference was found in the latest Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey between Asian people and their White British counterparts in terms of experiencing psychotic disorders or common mental health problems.
• Seek help in a crisis situation and in A&E.
• Be admitted to hospital with a mental health problem.
• Experience a poor outcome from treatment.
• Disengage from mainstream mental health services.     

A recent study of nearly 15,000 young people accessing mental health services found that young people from Minority Ethnic backgrounds were more likely to be referred to mental health services through routes such as youth justice and social services, than they were through perceived ‘voluntary’ routes such as primary care.  

Experiences of racism has been linked to increased likelihood of developing depression; hallucinations and delusions; and if physical assault is involved, post-traumatic stress

More Asian and British Asian adults screened positive for PTSD compared to their White counterparts.

Asian or Asian British-Pakistani men had the lowest recovery rates for IAPT talking therapies.