Minority voices: Research into the access and acceptability of ... - MMC
Minority voices: Research into the access and acceptability of ... - MMC
Minority voices: Research into the access and acceptability of ... - MMC
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6. STUDY FINDINGS II: YOUNG PEOPLE’S EXPERIENCES AND VIEWSKey Findings• Amongst <strong>the</strong> young people who took part in <strong>the</strong> study <strong>the</strong>re was generally very limitedunderst<strong>and</strong>ing <strong>of</strong> mental health <strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong> mental health services• Even when young people (<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir families) recognised that <strong>the</strong>y needed help many did notknow where to go - or were wary <strong>of</strong> seeking help due to worries about stigma <strong>and</strong> confidentiality• Many young people are only <strong>access</strong>ing help at a critical point in <strong>the</strong>ir difficulties. Often this<strong>access</strong> only occurs if <strong>the</strong> young person has come <strong>into</strong> contact with <strong>and</strong> formed a trustingrelationship with a pr<strong>of</strong>essional with knowledge <strong>of</strong> local mental health services• For young people from Black <strong>and</strong> minority ethnic groups <strong>the</strong> influence <strong>of</strong> parents <strong>and</strong> parents’perceptions <strong>of</strong> services, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> wider influence <strong>of</strong> Black <strong>and</strong> minority ethnic communities, is<strong>of</strong>ten underestimated or not fully understood• The importance <strong>of</strong> considering diverse religious <strong>and</strong> cultural needs was highlighted <strong>and</strong> crucially,<strong>of</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>essionals not making assumptions about young people on <strong>the</strong> basis <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se factors• The social isolation <strong>and</strong> lack <strong>of</strong> a general underst<strong>and</strong>ing <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> working <strong>of</strong> UK health <strong>and</strong> welfaresystems is marked amongst young refugees <strong>and</strong> asylum seekers <strong>and</strong> creates a significant barrierto <strong>the</strong>m <strong>access</strong>ing specialist mental health servicesAs noted in Chapter 4, young people were invited to participate in <strong>the</strong> <strong>Minority</strong> Voices studyei<strong>the</strong>r by taking part in an individual interview <strong>and</strong>/or a focus group held in each <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sampleareas. iIn total 76 young people (43 male, 33 female) shared <strong>the</strong>ir experiences <strong>and</strong> views aboutmental health services with <strong>the</strong> research team. They came from a wide range <strong>of</strong> minorityethnic backgrounds <strong>of</strong> which <strong>the</strong> largest groups were young people who described <strong>the</strong>mselvesas Black African (25 young people) <strong>and</strong> White <strong>and</strong> Black Caribbean (12 young people). Thesecategories are based on <strong>the</strong> 2001 census categories. The young people were also drawn fromvarious religious backgrounds with a number specifying that <strong>the</strong>y had no religion. Most were in<strong>the</strong> age range 16-18 years <strong>and</strong> 24 were young refugees or seeking asylum in <strong>the</strong> UK.Issues raised by young peopleWhilst <strong>the</strong> data ga<strong>the</strong>red indicated some geographic variations <strong>and</strong> also some differencesamongst young refugees <strong>and</strong> asylum seekers that were related to <strong>the</strong>ir migration status,across <strong>the</strong> different sample areas, <strong>and</strong> in both <strong>the</strong> individual interviews <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> focus groups,<strong>the</strong>re was considerable consistency in some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> prominent issues <strong>and</strong> concerns raised byyoung people. For this reason, <strong>the</strong> following material does not attempt to break down <strong>the</strong>information by ei<strong>the</strong>r focus group or interview but ra<strong>the</strong>r, presents a discussion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> key<strong>the</strong>mes emerging from <strong>the</strong> data overall. Any differences between those who had experience <strong>of</strong>using CAMHS/statutory mental health services <strong>and</strong> those without are noted under <strong>the</strong>particular issues discussed.A general point to note is that many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> concerns <strong>and</strong> views expressed about mental healthprovision have much in common with <strong>the</strong> information <strong>of</strong>ten obtained from all young people,irrespective <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir ethnic background. 92 However where <strong>the</strong>re were indications <strong>of</strong> variations in<strong>the</strong> extent <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> difficulties encountered or factors that are perhaps specific to young peoplefrom minority ethnic groups, <strong>the</strong>se are also highlighted in <strong>the</strong> discussion <strong>of</strong> each <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> issuesraised.iTwo additional focus group meetings were held in non-sample areas - <strong>the</strong> first in response to a request by a group <strong>of</strong> young refugeesto share <strong>the</strong>ir experiences with <strong>the</strong> research team <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> second, a meeting with young people supported by social services afterleaving care.<strong>Minority</strong> Voices <strong>Research</strong> Report24