The College in Scotland, the UK College, and its Presidential Leads for Race Equality have submitted an initial response to the findings of an extensive report into racial inequality in mental health services in Scotland.
The response has been developed in conjunction with the RCPsych's President, Adrian James, the College in Scotland's Chair, Linda Findlay, its Ethnically Diverse Communities Group and the Presidential Leads for Race Equality, Shubulade Smith and Rajesh Mohan.
It welcomes the efforts of the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland to provide much greater clarity on the extent of the challenges facing mental health services in Scotland in ensuring all Scots can access the right care in the right place, and at the right time regardless of their background. It also provides details on the work to address recommendations directly addressed to the College.
This sits alongside a wide range of initiatives the College is supporting and leading at a Scottish and UK level. These include:
- Supporting the development and running of a College in Scotland Ethnically Diverse Communities group (more details here, including how you can get involved)
- Mainstreaming equalities training through our all-member meetings and faculty events
- developing proposals for a reflective conversation for College in Scotland members of their experiences of racism
The report from the Commission also covers a range of systemic issues facing mental health services in Scotland that create disparities in the experiences of our ethnically diverse communities. We recognise there is an urgent need to examine why these disparities exist, and the College is committed to playing it's part in addressing them.
You can read our letter to the Commission here.