The impact of reduced routine community mental healthcare on people from minority ethnic groups during the COVID-19 pandemic: qualitative study of stakeholder perspectives
Winsper, Catherine Bhattacharya, Rahul Bhui, Kamaldeep Ellard, David Gilbert, Steve Khan, Noreen
Winsper, Catherine
Bhattacharya, Rahul
Bhui, Kamaldeep
Ellard, David
Gilbert, Steve
Khan, Noreen
Citations
Altmetric:
Affiliation
Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust; East London NHS Foundation Trust; University of Oxford; University of Warwick; University of Manchester; University of Nottingham; Steve Gilbert Consulting, Birmingham; University of Birmingham; McPin Foundation, London; University of Sheffield
Other Contributors
Publication date
2024-02-12
Collections
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Abstract
Background: Enduring ethnic inequalities exist in mental healthcare. The COVID-19 pandemic has widened these.
Aims: To explore stakeholder perspectives on how the COVID-19 pandemic has increased ethnic inequalities in mental healthcare.
Method: A qualitative interview study of four areas in England with 34 patients, 15 carers and 39 mental health professionals from National Health Service (NHS) and community organisations (July 2021 to July 2022). Framework analysis was used to develop a logic model of inter-relationships between pre-pandemic barriers and COVID-19 impacts.
Results: Impacts were largely similar across sites, with some small variations (e.g. positive service impacts of higher ethnic diversity in area 2). Pre-pandemic barriers at individual level included mistrust and thus avoidance of services and at a service level included the dominance of a monocultural model, leading to poor communication, disengagement and alienation. During the pandemic remote service delivery, closure of community organisations and media scapegoating exacerbated existing barriers by worsening alienation and communication barriers, fuelling prejudice and division, and increasing mistrust in services. Some minority ethnic patients reported positive developments, experiencing empowerment through self-determination and creative activities.
Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic some patients showed resilience and developed adaptations that could be nurtured by services. However, there has been a reduction in the availability of group-specific NHS and third-sector services in the community, exacerbating pre-existing barriers. As these developments are likely to have long-term consequences for minority ethnic groups' engagement with mental healthcare, they need to be addressed as a priority by the NHS and its partners.
Citation
Winsper C, Bhattacharya R, Bhui K, Currie G, Edge D, Ellard D, Franklin D, Gill P, Gilbert S, Khan N, Miller R, Motala Z, Pinfold V, Sandhu H, Singh SP, Weich S, Giacco D. The impact of reduced routine community mental healthcare on people from minority ethnic groups during the COVID-19 pandemic: qualitative study of stakeholder perspectives. Br J Psychiatry. 2024 Feb 12:1-7. doi: 10.1192/bjp.2024.11. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38344814.
Type
Article