Call over access to mental health care

RESEARCHERS have called for a review of mental health services in Scotland after a study uncovered inequalities in the way they are used by different ethnic groups.
They found the number of people hospitalised for mental health problems differed significantly between ethnic groups.

And they warned that some minority groups may not be using the appropriate services until they are seriously ill.

The study, the first of its kind in Scotland, looked at hospital admissions for psychiatric disorders, mood disorders such as depression and psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia between 2001 and 2008.

In most minority groups, people who went to hospital were shown to be significantly more likely to be treated under mental health legislation.

Researchers at Edinburgh University said services should be reviewed to ensure all ethnic groups have access to the best preventative care and treatment at an early stage.

Dr Narinder Bansal, of the university’s Centre for Population Health Sciences, said: “We hope that 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.”

Public health minister Michael Matheson said: “There are a range of reasons why some people may experience more difficulty than others in accessing mental health services.

“These can include being stigma or lack of understanding of the services available.

“The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that everybody who requires support for their mental health should receive the right care and treatment.”