Roiyah Saltus
Factors such as ‘race’ and ethnicity, socio-economic status and geographic location impact on the level of access to information and treatment, aswell as on the utilisation, experience and knowledge of mental health and social care provision. This paper reports on one aspect of a study to improve access to mental health information and care to targeted black and minority ethnic (BME) groups living in a large city in Wales. Although there is anecdotal evidence to suggest that England-based studies have relevance in Wales, there remain major gaps in our knowledge of the mental health needs of BME people in Wales. The BE4 study was the first study in Wales since devolution that sought to examine and provide a baseline of evidence of the mental health information and care needs of BME groups. This paper provides an analysis of the perceptions of mental health nurses, social workers and other health and social care professionals in relation to the quality of access to mental health information and care given to BME people in Wales, and seeks to contribute to the cross-national evidence base of research being conducted to underpin the development of culturally competent practice frameworks.
