Local, national and regional government must all tackle structural racism to prevent mental ill health, according to a new report from Centre for Mental Health.

The report, Shifting power, was commissioned by London Anti-Racism Collaboration for Health (LARCH) and citywide public mental health partnership Thrive LDN (one of Transformation Partners in Health and Care’s partnership programmes). It says that racism is a daily stress harming mental health at every stage of life. The current hostile political climate and increasing overt racism are increasing fear and harm for many people and communities.

Racism influences the key factors that shape our health – including work, housing and access to green space. Solutions that move beyond individual clinical care towards prevention are key to reducing these health inequalities, the report says. Mental health care is often not culturally sensitive and discrimination and prejudice, among other factors, leads to unequal access to early mental health support and further trauma.  

To stop harming racialised communities and prevent mental ill health, the report calls for system change, not just individual level interventions. Racial trauma must become a central public health concern. The report calls for a shift in power to communities and the adoption of anti-racist approaches in public health services.

It recommends local government share power and resources with communities – with third sector organisations funded to lead community-based support. It also calls for training for public health workers to support them to practise anti-racist and trauma-informed approaches, and for these practices to be embedded into everyday primary care.

Andy Bell, chief executive at Centre for Mental Health, said: “Racism is toxic to the public’s mental health. At every level of government, action to tackle racism and its consequences is urgently needed. Turning around racial inequalities in mental health requires concerted action to address their causes, and a shift in power to put communities in the lead.”

Director of Thrive LDN, Dan Barrett said: “The evidence in this report is clear that structural racism is a primary driver of mental health inequalities across London. We recognise that clinical care alone cannot address these systemic issues, which is why we must focus on the wider social and economic conditions that shape the lives of Londoners.

“Thrive LDN and partners are committed to making equity a measurable reality and ensuring that we address racial trauma as a citywide public health priority. By supporting community-led initiatives we can create a city where every Londoner has the support they need to truly thrive.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

• The full report is available at www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/publications/shifting-power.
• Centre for Mental Health is an independent charity. We take the lead in challenging injustices in policies, systems and society, so that everyone can have better mental health. Learn more: www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk
• The London Anti-Racism Collaboration for Health (LARCH) is a programme of work to empower health and care organisations to adopt an anti-racist approach and to address the health inequalities that racialised Londoners experience. It is delivered by the Race Equality Foundation. https://anti-racism.london/
• Thrive LDN is a citywide public mental health partnership to ensure all Londoners have an equal opportunity for good mental health and wellbeing. https://thriveldn.co.uk/
• Research for the report included research into 23 UK-based community organisations working with racialised communities and a series of three workshops involving 40 participants including people with lived experience and from charities, councils, universities and community groups.
• For more information, please contact Catherine Rennie at catherine.rennie@centreformentalhealth.org.uk or call 07415118879.