Research watch: people of Black African and African Caribbean heritage in the UK and USA – psychosis, racism and inclusion

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to examine three recent papers on psychosis and social inclusion in relation to people of Black African and African Caribbean heritage in the UK and the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

A search was carried out for recent papers on psychosis and social inclusion in relation to people of Black African and African Caribbean heritage in the UK and the USA. I selected three papers addressing this theme from different angles.

Findings

The first paper extends previous findings (that psychosis can follow traumatic events) to Black Americans and includes the contribution of societal inequalities and racism. The second paper illustrates Black men’s experiences of mental health services for psychosis in the UK. It finds, not surprisingly, that a lack of listening combined with coercive use of medication reduces trust in services. The third paper offers hope in reporting collaborative work with people of Black African Caribbean heritage in the UK to culturally adapt family intervention for psychosis. The first and third papers both place importance on valuing people’s spiritual beliefs.

Originality/value

All three papers highlight the on-going need for increased equity and social inclusion in mental health services for people of Black African and African Caribbean heritage, in terms of recognising the role of childhood trauma and later stresses, addressing the potential harm of over-reliance on medication, offering therapy that is collaborative and culturally adapted and respecting valued spiritual beliefs.

Citation

Holttum, S. (2020), "Research watch: people of Black African and African Caribbean heritage in the UK and USA – psychosis, racism and inclusion", Mental Health and Social Inclusion, Vol. 24 No. 2, pp. 67-74. https://doi.org/10.1108/MHSI-02-2020-0003