Minority voices: Research into the access and acceptability of ... - MMC

3. CONTEXT OF THE STUDYVarious areas of the research literature are highly relevant to the Minority Voices study. Inaddition there is a growing knowledge base about what works and is effective in improvingmental health outcomes for children, young people and families more generally, includingthose who are in contact with child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS). 21 Theimportance and difficulties of inter-agency working 22 23 and the concerns about an overallupward trend in the numbers of young people identified with mental health problems are other24 25important areas of literature relevant to all young people.Areas of specific relevance to the study are:• Studies concerning the understanding of ethnicity, cultural awareness, culturalsensitivity, cultural competence and socially inclusive practice.• Literature focused on the mental health needs of young people from Black and minorityethnic groups and on the ‘risk factors’ that disproportionately affect them.• The literature discussing the provision of mental health services for Black and minorityethnic groups, including studies comparing pathways to services and those examiningprogress, or the issues that must be addressed, to achieve race equality in serviceprovision. Whilst predominantly focused on adults, clearly many of the concerns applyto young people.• Analysis of the factors that can affect the access by young people from Black andminority ethnic groups to mental health services, including research into help-seekingbehaviours, the identification of mental health needs, service engagement andcomparative views of parents from different ethnic groups and their perceptions andexpectations of services.In this report, only a brief overview of this literature is presented. However, in the Appendix, aglossary of some key documents is provided.Literature search methodologySearches were limited to English language publications and search terms included: ethnic;health promotion; ethnic mental health young people; ethnic minority; mental health; mentalhealth services; CAMHS; somatisation mental health; user mental health; adolescent mentalhealth; racism, ethnic mental health; ethnic adolescence health; transition from child to adultservices; young people views services; young people awareness mental health; barriers,services, ethnic; access mental health, minority.The following databases were searched: Medline; Electronic Library for Social Care;PsychINFO; NHS National Research Register (NRR); Department of Health Research FindingsElectronic Register (ReFeR). The team also undertook a number of internet web searches,hand searches of relevant journals and followed up word of mouth recommendations.The population of Black and minority ethnic young peopleThe national census has revealed that the minority ethnic population of the UK was 4.5 millionin 2001, 7.6% of the population of the UK. Indians were the largest minority group followedby Pakistanis, then Black Caribbeans, Black Africans and those of mixed ethnic backgrounds. 26Census data indicates that minority ethnic groups were more likely to live in England than inthe other countries of the UK. Forty-five per cent of minority ethnic people live in Londonwhere they comprise 29% of all residents, a substantial proportion of London’s 7.2 millionpeople. Across the rest of the UK, ethnic groups show variation in geographical distributionand concentration. Two per cent of the population of England and Wales are Indian, themajority of whom live in Leicester. Bangladeshis make up 0.5% of the population of Englandand Wales with the highest proportion in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets (33.4%). Justover 1% of people in England and Wales are Black Caribbean, 0.9% are Black African and afurther 0.2% are from Other Black groups.Minority Voices Research Report10