An investigation of Black Minority Ethnic service users’ perception of their needs within a North London mental health NHS trust

This study was conducted to find out from service users from a black and minority ethnic background (BME) how they perceive their needs were being met when being cared for in the Mental Health Trust. The participants were drawn from the black ethnic group including Black African, Black Caribbean, Black British and Black Mixed Race.
The study was a descriptive phenomenological study whereby the participants were interviewed using a semi structured interview via the use of a topic guide. The study was informed by the mental health trusts’ priorities under the Race Equality Scheme to meet the needs of the diverse group which it serves.
The interviews were tape recorded and the data collated was transcribed verbatim. Six themes and subsequent sub-themes were identified following thematic analysis of the data. The findings from this research study suggest that BME service users did not express any negative views about the care they received by the mental health trust. Some of the BME participants however stated that they had to wait varying lengths on time before they received specialist psychological services. The participants expressed that they experienced stigma and discrimination by the police, criminal justice system, employment and the wider public.
A few recommendations were made including the development of a 5-day training programme to support the police in enhancing their knowledge and skill about mental illness. Mental health professionals to continue to challenge discrimination through campaigns, video, leaflets. There was also a recommendation made regarding the 6Cs - Care, Communication, Compassion, Courage, Competence and Commitment. In that the term ‘Consistency’ should be added to make a 7th C. Other Implications for practice were also noted.