Psychiatrict care review call from researchers

RESEARCHERS from Edinburgh University today called for a review of psychiatric and mental health services to ensure all groups have access to the best preventative care and treatment at an early stage.
It followed a study which revealed ethnic inequalities in mental health care, including a significant difference in the rates of hospitalisations for mental health problems according to ethnic group.

The authors said the findings showed people from some minority ethnic groups may not be using mental health services until they are seriously ill.

Dr Narinder Bansal, of Edinburgh University’s Centre for Population Health Sciences, said: “We hope this study will inform politicians and doctors’ decisions about how treatment is best delivered and planned for, to ensure equal access to early care.

“It is vital that mental health services meet the needs of ­Scotland’s culturally diverse population.”