Disparities in mental health referral for young people from minority ethnic groups

Data analysed from over 14,500 young people accessing mental health services in the UK found young people from minority ethnic backgrounds were more likely to be referred to mental health services through routes that were less likely to involve voluntary service access.

Compared to White British young people, Black young people and mixed-race young people were more than twice as likely to be referred through social care/youth than primary care.

Dr Julian Edbrooke-Childs, of the Division of Psychology & Language Sciences, said the research is in line with previous literature which showed that young people and adults from minority ethnic backgrounds were more likely to access services through compulsory than voluntary pathways.

“The findings of the present study suggest that young people from minority ethnic backgrounds were more likely to be referred through different routes such as social care/youth justice compared to white British majority young people.

“Understanding the reasons for these differences is critical for reducing inequalities and improving pathways to mental health care access in young people,” said Dr Edbrooke-Childs.

“National and local policy and practice guidelines should prioritise engagement between youth mental health services and local referring organisations to ensure early identification and appropriate intervention for young people from minority ethnic backgrounds,” he said.  

Links

• Dr Julian Edbrooke-Childs  
• Dr Praveetha Patalay (co-author) 
• Division of Psychology & Language Sciences 
• Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families