Background
Despite calls to address ethnic inequalities to accessing mental health services in the UK, governmental initiatives have had limited impact. Studies indicate that South Asian communities underutilise mental health services. Previous reviews have identified cultural and institutional factors that may influence service use, but these are mostly narrative and limited in their scope.
Method
A systematic literature search resulted in fifteen studies exploring the experiences of seeking help and barriers to accessing and using services from the perspective of British South Asian service users.
Findings
Qualitative data was synthesised through meta-ethnography, and three themes emerged: Distanced from Services, Dilemma of Trust and Threat to Cultural Identity. South Asian service users were positioned at a distance from being able to access services and stuck in a dilemma of mistrusting White and Asian professionals. They constructed their cultural identity through a set of important values which were neglected by mental health services. Service users, therefore, appeared to engage in an ongoing evaluation of the potential benefits of accessing services against the risks of threat to their personal and cultural identities. The findings are discussed in relation to Eurocentric models of care and community engagement approaches.
Conclusion
The review argues that institutional racism and cultural dissonance marginalise South Asian service users from access to quality and effective mental healthcare. It is recommended that services acknowledge the impact of alienation and powerlessness and advance their practices to establish trust and cultural safety for South Asian service users in the UK.
This article considers the reflections of three female BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) trainees from different D.Clin.Psy. courses, on their experiences of encountering racism in their respective training contexts, and how these issues can be addressed by training providers.
Purpose
This study aims to assess a novel clinic whereby new patients were discussed in a multi-agency, multi-disciplinary panel and given feedback on the same day. The objectives were to determine the impacts on time to commencing treatment, need for further assessment, discharges and staff and patient experiences.
Design/methodology/approach
Outcomes from the new assessment clinic were compared to previous individual assessments. Feedback questionnaires were given to patients, while a focus group was conducted with staff.
Findings
There was a significant reduction in the time to agreeing a treatment plan (34 days to <1 day), the need for further assessment (61%–23.2%) and a significant increase in the proportion discharged from secondary care (26.9%–49.8%). Clinician and patient feedback on the clinic was positive.
Practical implications
The model of a multi-agency, multi-disciplinary clinic could be used for assessing new referrals to community mental health teams.
Originality/value
The use of a multi-agency, multi-disciplinary clinic is a novel approach within community mental health teams which led to improvements in efficiency, while demonstrating positive patient and clinician feedback.
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