Race and ethnicity
We are dedicated to fighting against race inequality for our patients, carers, members, staff and in wider society.Minoritised ethnic people experience inequalities in the UK, which often lead to inequalities in health.
The independent review of the Mental Health Act 1983, led by former RCPsych President Professor Sir Simon Wessely, published in 2018, found that profound inequalities exist for minoritised people in access to treatment, experiences of care and outcomes.
In addition, the review heard that Black adults are more likely than adults in other ethnic groups to have been detained under the Mental Health Act.
We've launched guidance and resources to help mental health employers tackle racism in the workplace. Act Against Racism is our campaign to get organisations to adopt the guidance, and take vital steps towards addressing this huge problem.
For more information please email equality@rcpsych.ac.uk.
Blog posts relating to race and ethnicity
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South Asian Heritage Month: A bridge too far? On tackling barriers to achieving RCPsych Fellowship
As part of our South Asian Heritage Month 2025 celebrations, Dr Neeti Sandhu shares details of her own career journey, which she hopes will encourage others to recognise and realise ...
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Black History Month 2024: Reclaiming a positive narrative about Black people navigating mental health services
Read this powerful blog from Dr Uju Ugochukwu, Consultant Psychiatrist, considering how we reclaim a positive narrative about Black people navigating mental health services and our role, both individually and ...
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Celebrating South Asian identities
Dr Amrit Sachar, the College's Joint Presidential Lead for Equity and Equality writes a blog post to conclude our celebrations of South Asian History Month.
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South Asian History Month: Challenging traditions – Navigating mental health stigma for South Asian youth in the UK
4th year medical student, Projit Kar, writes a blog post to celebrate this year's South Asian History Month.
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Remembering the struggles, remembering the achievements
For Black History Month, we hear from the College's CEO Paul Rees, who reflects on the challenges he and others have faced with racism, and the inspiring success stories which ...
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Identity, culture, and belonging: bridging the gap between mental health and the arts
For Black History Month, we hear from Isballe Gallier-Birt Olaniyan - one of the inaugural recipients of the Aggrey Burke Fellowship scheme. She talks about the intersection of mental health ...
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Inaugural Aggrey Burke Fellows: Daniel Olaniyan
For Black History Month, we hear from Daniel Olaniyan - one of the inaugural recipients of the Aggrey Burke Fellowship scheme. He talks about his journey to becoming a medical ...
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Afrodepression: towards another aesthetic for Black despair
Dr Dami Ajayi, a writer and psychiatrist, has written our second blog post for Black History Month 2023. He talks about the sub-genre of Afrobeats music known as 'Afrodepression'.
Dr Dami Ajayi -
The arts and art therapy - not a cure-all but its benefits cannot be overlooked
For this year's Black History Month, we hear from medical student Oluwamayomikun Ajayi about the power of art as a therapy for mental health, and the use of arts in ...
Oluwamayomikun Ajayi -
South Asian History Month: My journey from South Asian to UK practice, second motherhood, community and cultural differences
Dr Supriya Agarwal talks about the challenges of coming to work as a psychiatrist in the UK, and her experiences over the last four years.
Dr Supriya Agarwal
