Mind in Berkshire has published a new report examining the experiences of Black people detained under the Mental Health Act in Berkshire. The report explores broader themes relating to Black people’s access to mental health care and support.
Between 2021 and 2023, data showed that Black individuals were over three times more likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act than white individuals in Berkshire. Mind in Berkshire was commissioned to engage with Black communities, local staff, and community groups to understand the context behind these figures better and identify themes that may help inform future service development.
The report was commissioned by Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BHFT) as part of a wider programme of work addressing inequalities in local mental health services.
The report draws on feedback from over 180 people and highlights several key themes, including:
- A perception of systemic racial bias at both national and local levels
- Experiences of poor treatment and outcomes for Black individuals using mental health services
- Stigma surrounding mental health within some Black communities
- A need for greater cultural awareness and representation within the mental health workforce
- The impact of intergenerational trauma and mistrust in services
- The importance of early education and preventative approaches to mental wellbeing
- A need to build stronger, more collaborative relationships between services and Black communities
Joel Rose and Jess Willsher, Co-CEOs for Mind in Berkshire, said:
“This report, a product of our collective efforts, represents an important step in understanding the experiences and perspectives of Black communities in Berkshire about mental health services. We are grateful to everyone who contributed so openly to this engagement. It is important that these findings now lead to constructive and collaborative change, across the system, so that disparities are reduced and experiences improve.“
The report aligns with the Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework (PCREF) objectives, which all mental health trusts in England must implement by March 2025. It includes recommendations for how BHFT can continue to work with communities to improve trust, increase cultural awareness, and co-produce more inclusive approaches to mental health care.
Dr. Kathryn MacDermott, Director of Strategic Planning, Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said:
“Nationally and within Berkshire, Black people are disproportionately more likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act 1983. For the last two years Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust have had a dedicated Mental Health Act Detention project which aims to understand and address these longstanding racial inequalities. At the heart of this project are lived experience and community voices. We commissioned Mind in Berkshire to engage with people with lived experience, community members and staff to gain an in-depth insight of Black communities’ perspectives and people/families that have experienced detention(s).
“We welcome the findings of the report and will continue to work with Mind in Berkshire, embedding learnings from the report within the ongoing work we are doing.
“Alongside Mind in Berkshire, we have also collaborated and engaged with a range of stakeholders including NHS Race and Health Observatory, Thames Valley Police, Slough Borough Council, Council for Voluntary Service – Slough (CVS) and Alliance of Cohesion and Racial Equality – Reading (ACRE). You can find out more about our work together on the Trust’s website.“