Minority Mental Health: Intersections between Faith and Ethnicity

Abstract

It is estimated that 1 in 6 people experience a mental health disruption every week in the UK(1). During the lockdowns of 2020, the global incidence of suicide has suggestively risen between 1 to 145%(6,7). Amidst this uncertainty, the UK reported that those from black and ethnic minority (BAME) communities were suffering a disproportionate number of deaths from COVID-19 compared to the rest of the population. The mental health implications of COVID-19 and the lockdown suggest BAME men are suffering the worst mental health outcomes (compared to the general population in the UK) as a consequence(9).Therefore, prevention of deteriorating mental health is a public health priority and understanding as much as we can about minority mental health is pivotal in overcoming this crisis. In an age increasingly being defined by islamophobia, antisemitism and racism in the western world, this paper attempts to investigate the current literature on this topic this via three key themes; discrimination, access and quality of care.

It is possible to design effective mental health care frameworks which are inclusive and culturally sensitive to the needs of both established Black and ethnic minority communities, but also for newer migrants, refugees and asylum seekers (32,33). Whilst this paper provides a brief overview of the current literature and academic developments in understanding the intersections between faith and ethnicity in minority mental health; more needs to be done, especially in the investigation of access barriers within minority communities. I acknowledge that the inclusion of sexual and neurodevelopmental minorities within this framework has been neglected but they are equally important areas that require more attention.

Keywords: mental health, global mental health, minority health, minority mental health, ethnic minority, BAME, lockdown, COVID-19, religion and health, ethnicity and health, minority health, global health, public health, UK, migrant health

JEL Classification: I12, I14, I10