Advancing Anti-Racist Therapy for Racialised Communities
Our new report, developed with BLAM, takes a critical look at how racial trauma can be understood and effectively addressed through the development of anti-racist therapy that centres the voices and experiences of racialised people.
Racial trauma in the UK is not just a personal burden, but a public health emergency. It stems from persistent exposure to racism — whether through systemic inequalities, direct discrimination, or witnessing harm against other racialised people — leading to deep and ongoing psychological distress.
Despite this, mental health services in the UK remain largely unresponsive to the specific needs of Black and racialised communities. Of course structural racism and racial stress are a large part of poor mental health, but mainstream therapy often fails to validate or adequately address the lived experiences and trauma of those most hurt.
Black people are 40% more likely to access mental health care through the criminal justice system
and 3.5 times more likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act.
The UK context reveals some alarming realities: Black people are 40% more likely to access mental health care through the criminal justice system and 3.5 times more likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act compared to their White counterparts. These disparities highlight how systemic racism in healthcare services, criminal justice, and broader social structures affect pathways to care and reinforce racial trauma.
However, access to safe and culturally-relevant support remains minimal. This report not only exposes these failings but also advocates for a shift toward racial wellness therapies and community-led approaches designed to provide culturally competent, trauma-informed care. By recognising the cumulative impact of racism and seeking to dismantle structural barriers, this report explores how we can advance more equitable and effective mental health services in the UK.
It is time to move beyond race-neutral approaches to mental health care, which fail to consider how racism permeates all aspects of life for Black and racialised people. Our report calls on policy-makers, healthcare practitioners, and communities to reimagine a mental health system that is grounded in anti-racism, equity, and transformative justice. This is not just about reforming current practices; it’s about rebuilding systems of care that genuinely heal and empower us.
Join us in reshaping mental health services that truly recognise and respond to the diverse needs of those most marginalised.
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