BE4: Improving the quality of access to information and appropriate treatment in mental health and social care to Black and Minority Ethnic people in Cardiff

'Race', ethnicity and mental health have become increasingly significant considerations forpractitioners, and policy makers. Recent drivers include the MacPherson Report oninstitutional racism and the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 - both of which insist thatby law public authorities must provide a quality of service to BME groups that does notexclude and discriminate. In Wales, as with all public services in the UK, attempts are beingmade to critically appraise the National Health Service and the care that is provided.The Awetu All-Wales Black and Minority Ethnic Mental Health Group is a Cardiff-basedorganisation dedicated solely to working with the public and private sector, user and survivorgroups, and voluntary agencies to promote and foster the mental health of BME individuals,families, and communities. In 2002, Awetu received funding from the Health Services Policyand Development Division of the Welsh Assembly Government to undertake research tostrengthen the evidence base for improving access to mental health and social careinformation and treatment to BME people in Cardiff, in particular those living in Butetown,Grangetown and Riverside.The current transformation of the statutory and non-statutory mental health service in Cardiffhas created pressures on the management and staff as old priorities shift to incorporaterevised and new statutory priorities, care standards, and legal obligations. Added to this isthe constant pressure caused by the high turnover of health professionals, in particular, thoseworking in the wards targeted for this study. This 'moment of change and transformation'may, however, provide welcome opportunities for re-ordering service priorities in thedirection of greater responsiveness to the needs of a diverse population.