Racism damages mental health, study finds

Structural racism affects the health and wellbeing of ethnic minority group communities in London, and contributes to inequality between ethnic groups, according to a new report from University College London (UCL).

The report, entitled Structural Racism, Ethnicity and Health Inequalities in London, is based on published and unpublished reports, materials and research, as well as health and social determinants data.

The findings of the report demonstrate that people who are repeatedly exposed to racism during their daily lives, or when using essential services, experience worse physical and mental health. While acknowledging efforts to reduce structural and institutional racism in London, it found the impacts of racism evident in ethnic inequalities in poverty, housing, employment, pay and career progression.

The researchers, based at UCL’s Institute of Health Equity (IHE), highlighted the marked inequalities among ethnic groups in maternal health, child health and mental illness, as well as their experiences with the criminal justice system. The IHE is calling for greater accountability, particularly from leaders, institutions and employers, to prevent racism from continuing unchecked and to improve the lives of people who experience it.

High educational attainment does not lead to better jobs

The review found that:

• Nearly 70% of Bangladeshi and Pakistani and 52% of Black children are growing up in relative poverty (after housing costs) in London, compared to 26% of children in white households. One of the most important drivers of health and wellbeing is income – children who grow up in poverty are less likely to live in decent housing, be able to eat nutritious food, or have places to play or sleep. As a result, their educational attainment and prospects throughout life (such as income and employment) are negatively affected.
• While many young Londoners from ethnic minority groups are reaching high levels of educational attainment, this does not translate into good employment or income, and many minority ethnic groups have high rates of poverty: 59% of Bangladeshi, 53% of Pakistani and 42% of Black households in London are living in poverty after housing costs, compared to 20% of white households.
• Ethnic inequalities are most apparent in employment opportunities and levels of pay: the rate of unemployment among Black people aged 16-24 is more than double the rate of white people in the same age group. Gypsies and Travellers, however, have the highest rate of unemployment of any ethnic minority group. In London, 40% of ethnic minority group workers had reported racism at work in the last five years.

Professor Sir Michael Marmot, equity director at IHE, and co-chair of the review’s advisory board said: “Racism is a scar on society. Social justice requires that we take the action necessary to deal with it. It is a profound injustice if the conditions for good health are unequally distributed, depending on ethnicity. Especially so, where that unequal distribution results from the evils of racism. Inequalities in the social determinants of health are storing up health problems for the future.”

Responding to the report, Vanessa Joseph, head of mental health equity at the charity Mind, said: “People from racialised communities are being failed. Structural racism is a major barrier to people being able to live happily and healthily in the UK, and the impacts on people’s mental health can be severe, particularly for young people.

“This research shows people from these communities are less likely to access mental health services through fear of discrimination and lack of cultural awareness. They are also far more likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act.

“Action is urgently needed, including through reforms to the outdated Mental Health Act. We need to focus on the needs of the most marginalised in our society. The government must be ambitious with its reforms if it is to truly address the shocking racial injustices the act creates. We call on the government to rise to the challenge and enact real, substantial change in our society to end structural racism in all its forms.”