Experiences of black British people accessing mental health care: A disparity in treatment

Wednesday, 01 October 2025

With October being Black History Month, we wanted to take the time to highlight the experiences of black individuals when seeking healthcare in the UK. While there have been improvements historically, it would be a disservice to not raise awareness of ongoing inequality in healthcare settings for black British people. The NHS has highlighted reducing health inequalities as a priority in their long-term plan and, as a provider for private and NHS patients, we are committed to this shared mission.

In this article we look at some of the study surrounding this topic, and what more can be done by ourselves and other mental health professionals to work against even unconscious examples of prejudice that can lead to mistreatment. Only through being thoroughly educated on the experience of black people can we proactively improve experiences.

How much does race impact health care?
What do we know about black British people’s experiences in mental health care?
What causes disparity in care for black people?
What needs to be done about this disparity in care?
Why this matters to us

How much does race impact health care?

We cannot make light of the life-altering and dangerous impact of racial inequality in healthcare, and there are key statistics in various healthcare situations, not just mental health, that show its effects. Fewer than 1 in 60 respondents to a recent survey felt fairly treated by the health system, with 87% of respondents reporting that they expect to receive a substandard level of healthcare because of their race.

Disparity in care may stem in part from the fact that only 8.8% of the NHS workforce are from black backgrounds. This can impact communication and understanding and may contribute to why black women are nearly four times more likely to die during childbirth than white women. We also saw higher death and complication rates among black people during the COVID-19 pandemic and overall higher reports of discrimination when seeking health care. There is also a lack of representation of black people in genetic databases, which could provide ongoing and future disparities in quality of medical treatments.

What do we know about black British people’s experiences in mental health care?

Starting with black people’s concerns about accessing healthcare, studies have found that many experience barriers to accessing mental health services due to stigma or misinformation, even noting experiences of disempowerment, poor communication, and cultural misunderstanding in their interactions with providers. This stigma manifests in statistics such as black people being more than four times as likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act than white people due to late intervention. 87% of respondents to a recent study believe there is a problem with misdiagnosis, over-medication, or unfair treatment towards black people in mental health care.

Alongside this, black people are 40 percent more likely to access mental health services via the criminal justice system than white people. While it is hard to find evidence of direct racial discrimination during assessment, there is evidence of ethnic bias such as greater uncertainty by clinicians in the diagnosis of emotional problems and depression in black patients. This extends to black people being less likely to be referred to talking therapies and more likely to be medicated for ill mental health.

What causes disparity in care for black people?

Understanding the disparities in mental health care for black people in the UK means looking beyond surface-level statistics. At its core, inequality is deeply embedded in the structures and practices of healthcare systems. Below are some key areas to consider.

Institutional racism and unconscious bias

From misdiagnosis to dismissive treatment, black patients often face a healthcare system shaped by institutional racism and unconscious bias. This is not always overt, but shows up in how symptoms are interpreted, how pain is responded to, and how care is delivered. Unconscious, perceptions of black women being ‘stronger’ than other women, for example, can reduce the care they are given in healthcare settings. As has been documented, these systemic patterns result in poorer experiences and outcomes for black communities.

Underrepresentation in research and medical training

Medical education still frequently centres white bodies and experiences. For example, common dermatological symptoms like rashes or inflammation are rarely taught on darker skin tones, leading to delayed diagnoses or overlooked conditions. Clinical teaching rarely including representation of black populations can reinforce harmful blind spots in diagnosis and care. This lack of representation extends to mental health research, where studies often fail to include or analyse data by ethnicity—leaving the needs of black individuals unrecognised and unaddressed.

The role of socioeconomic inequality

Racism doesn’t exist in a vacuum; it intersects with other forms of disadvantage. Black communities in the UK are disproportionately affected by poverty, unemployment, housing insecurity, and other social determinants of health. These factors not only increase vulnerability to poor mental health but also create additional barriers to accessing timely, appropriate care. Tackling systemic racism requires an understanding of how race and class intertwine to compound inequality.

What needs to be done about this disparity in care?

As providers, clinicians, and medical professionals, or even as those just seeking to better understand our healthcare systems and mental health support, we believe the following are steps we can take.

Promote inclusive medical education by calling for teaching materials that reflect a diverse range of skin tones and health experiences.
Supoprt research and healthcare initiatives that are representative of black communities.
Raise awareness about how unconscious bias and institutional practices can impact diagnosis and treatment through training.
Explore and elevate the messages of advocacy organisations such as the Black Equity Organisation and the Runnymede Trust to stay informed and amplify systemic change.

Why this matters to us

Here at Clinical Partners, we recognise that trust in healthcare is built on feeling seen, understood, and treated with dignity. Yet, too often, black individuals face systemic gaps that undermine that trust. It is our mission to offer quality care to everyone with accessibility and inclusivity at the forefront of our approach, and we strive to understand the unique challenges faced by every one of our patients to offer them the most affirming and personalised care we can. Raising awareness of racial bias, both internally as a business and on our platforms as a provider, is only one of the ways we can work towards greater education on changes that must be made for an equitable future.