Mental health of BME children and young people 'overlooked'

Black and minority ethnic children and young people are being overlooked in the planning and provision of services that can address their mental health needs, claims a new report launched today by The Afiya Trust.

'Enjoy, Achieve and Be Healthy: The mental health of Black and minority ethnic children and young people', is the result of a policy overview and consultation with 11-25-year-olds. The report highlights that a worrying profile at national policy level, of BME children receiving insufficient and ineffective consideration due to their age and ethnicity, is emerging.

The report reveals that around 20 percent of children and young people are believed to have a mental health problem, yet there is no indication how many are from a BME background. Despite a breakdown of disorders being available for BME adults, none is available for BME children and young people, and has yet to be explained why. Moreover, risk factors highlighted for children and young people regarding mental health fail to include racism, racial harassment or racist bullying.

Report author Mhemooda Malek added: "The overall picture is that mainstream public services and programmes, with some notable exceptions, are failing to meet the mental health needs of BME children and young people. They are more likely to come to the attention of services at the point of crisis, yet there appears to be no significant progress in redressing this injustice."

The coalition government's 'No health without mental health' strategy, recognises the importance of mental health and have established a Ministerial Advisory Group on the Mental Health Strategy. Afiya's Chief Executive Patrick Vernon plans to present the report to Paul Burstow, Minister for Care Services.

Patrick Vernon, Chief Executive of The Afiya Trust, said: "The Afiya Trust commissioned this report in recognition that BME children and young people's mental health and wellbeing is being systematically failed by education, criminal justice, health and social care services. The report captures the challenges they face, the ineffectiveness of service provision and the woeful lack of the most basic information about them."

The aim is to ensure that the implementation of the new mental health strategy, which for the first time includes children and young people, reflects the voice and experiences of BME children and young people.

OBV Staff Reporter