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Mental health 'apartheid' warning Mental health 'apartheid' warning
(about 1 hour later)
A senior monitor of mental patients' interests has warned of "a kind of apartheid" in the mental health system.A senior monitor of mental patients' interests has warned of "a kind of apartheid" in the mental health system.
Lord Patel of Bradford, chairman of the Mental Health Act Commission, told the BBC that institutional racism in the service needed to be addressed.Lord Patel of Bradford, chairman of the Mental Health Act Commission, told the BBC that institutional racism in the service needed to be addressed.
He said it could be one reason why some black groups were 18 times more likely to be in psychiatric care.He said it could be one reason why some black groups were 18 times more likely to be in psychiatric care.
The Department of Health has promised to "eradicate discrimination" in mental health services.The Department of Health has promised to "eradicate discrimination" in mental health services.
SegregationSegregation
Lord Patel, a former government adviser, said unless it could be established why there was an over-representation of black people in mental health care, "segregation" would develop over the next 10 to 20 years. Lord Patel said it had to be established why there was an over-representation of black people in psychiatric care.
He added: "It's going to get worse. We have to deal with it very strongly." Otherwise, he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We're going to have a situation where we'll have segregation.
"We'll have those that live on the margins of society, feeling more hopelessness than they do now.
"A kind of apartheid will happen in the next 10 to 20 years. It's going to get worse. We have to deal with it very strongly."
Experts estimate black people are three to 10 times more likely to be diagnosed as schizophrenic and less likely to be diagnosed with depression.Experts estimate black people are three to 10 times more likely to be diagnosed as schizophrenic and less likely to be diagnosed with depression.
They are also more likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act and to be given medication, rather than "talking" therapies.They are also more likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act and to be given medication, rather than "talking" therapies.
David Rocky Bennett, a black mental health patient, died in 1998 after being restrained at a Norfolk clinic.David Rocky Bennett, a black mental health patient, died in 1998 after being restrained at a Norfolk clinic.
An inquiry into the incident concluded that institutional racism was "a festering abscess, a blot on the good name of the NHS".An inquiry into the incident concluded that institutional racism was "a festering abscess, a blot on the good name of the NHS".
Following this, the government pledged to "eradicate discrimination" in NHS mental health care.Following this, the government pledged to "eradicate discrimination" in NHS mental health care.