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African-Caribbean interactions with mental health services in the UK: experiences and expectations of exclusion as (re)productive of health inequalities

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  • Mclean, Carl
  • Campbell, Catherine
  • Cornish, Flora

Abstract

In the context of current concerns about health inequalities among minority ethnic groups in the UK, this paper addresses perceptions of mental health services among members of an African-Caribbean community in a South England town. Efforts to reduce health inequalities must take account of the views of local community members on the sources of those inequalities and on local health services. The statistical existence of inequalities in diagnosis and treatment of African-Caribbeans in the UK is well-established, supported by sociological explanations of these inequalities which centre on social exclusion in a variety of forms: institutional, cultural and socio-economic. However, detailed studies of the perspectives of local communities on mental health issues and services have received less attention. In this case study of community perceptions of mental health services, we find that social exclusion comprises an explanatory framework which is repeatedly invoked by community members in describing their interaction with mental health services. Interviewees assert that experience and expectation of racist mis-treatment by mental health services are key factors discouraging early accessing of mental health services, and thereby perpetuating mental health inequalities. We conclude that participation and partnership are vital means by which to generate both the objective and subjective inclusion that are requirements for an accessible and appropriate health service.

Suggested Citation

  • Mclean, Carl & Campbell, Catherine & Cornish, Flora, 2003. "African-Caribbean interactions with mental health services in the UK: experiences and expectations of exclusion as (re)productive of health inequalities," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 56(3), pages 657-669, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:56:y:2003:i:3:p:657-669
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Jane Boydell & Craig Morgan & Rina Dutta & Barry Jones & Fana Alemseged & Paola Dazzan & Kevin Morgan & Gillian Doody & Glynn Harrison & Julian Leff & Peter Jones & Robin Murray & Paul Fearon, 2012. "Satisfaction with inpatient treatment for first-episode psychosis among different ethnic groups: A report from the UK ÆSOP study," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 58(1), pages 98-105, January.
    2. Louise Tanner & Sarah Sowden & Madeleine Still & Katie Thomson & Clare Bambra & Josephine Wildman, 2021. "Which Non-Pharmaceutical Primary Care Interventions Reduce Inequalities in Common Mental Health Disorders? A Protocol for a Systematic Review of Quantitative and Qualitative Studies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-12, December.
    3. Caroline Lawlor & Sonia Johnson & Laura Cole & Louise M. Howard, 2012. "Ethnic variations in pathways to acute care and compulsory detention for women experiencing a mental health crisis," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 58(1), pages 3-15, January.
    4. Adams, A. & Vail, L. & Buckingham, C.D. & Kidd, J. & Weich, S. & Roter, D., 2014. "Investigating the influence of African American and African Caribbean race on primary care doctors' decision making about depression," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 161-168.
    5. Scott, Penelope, 2014. "Black African asylum seekers’ experiences of health care access in an eastern German state," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 10(3), pages 134-147.
    6. Mullard, Jordan C.R. & Kawalek, Jessica & Parkin, Amy & Rayner, Clare & Mir, Ghazala & Sivan, Manoj & Greenhalgh, Trisha, 2023. "Towards evidence-based and inclusive models of peer support for long covid: A hermeneutic systematic review," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 320(C).
    7. Guy Shefer & Diana Rose & Laura Nellums & Graham Thornicroft & Claire Henderson & Sara Evans-Lacko, 2013. "‘Our community is the worst’: The influence of cultural beliefs on stigma, relationships with family and help-seeking in three ethnic communities in London," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 59(6), pages 535-544, September.
    8. Kate Bernard & Josephine M. Wildman & Louise M. Tanner & Akvile Stoniute & Madeleine Still & Rhiannon Green & Claire Eastaugh & Sarah Sowden & Katie H. Thomson, 2023. "Experiences of Non-Pharmaceutical Primary Care Interventions for Common Mental Health Disorders in Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Groups: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Studies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(7), pages 1-23, March.

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