Centre for Mental Health

Achieving race equality could pay dividends for mental health services, says new report

16 October 2006

The Government's drive to reduce discrimination in mental health services could free up millions of pounds to invest in better services for African and Caribbean people, according to a research study from the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health today.

The Costs of Race Inequality examined the financial costs of the differences in specialist mental health service use among people from different ethnic groups in London. It found that the over-representation of African and Caribbean people in psychiatric hospitals, in secure services and in community services costs the NHS in London up to £100 million a year.

It concludes that if mental health trusts in London had the funds to invest in more appropriate community-based services for African and Caribbean people, they need not spend as much as they do on inpatient services. Community and voluntary groups can be vital sources of more acceptable and accessible support.

Angela Greatley, SCMH chief executive, said: "The Government has rightly made race equality a priority for mental health services. Our figures make it clear there is not just a moral case for race equality but also a compelling business case. Investing now in services that Black people can trust and that respond to their stated needs will pay dividends in future."