title: The essential elements of culturally sensitive psychiatric services.
abstract: The recent re-structuring of the British National Health Service (NHS) involving a greater emphasis on community treatment has not specifically taken account of the unequal access to mental health services experienced by black people. The greater use amongst black people of compulsory orders, police involvement and reliance on psychotropic medication, although well established, has not influenced policy or led to a strategy to ensure that services appropriately meet the needs of the culturally diverse population in this country. We present the literature on service utilisation by black people and emphasise potential solutions in areas with which black people are dissatisfied. The service structures, ideology and mechanisms presented form the foundations of good practice.
authors.affiliation: Maudsley Hospital, London, England.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bhui
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Christie
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bhugra
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology; D044383:Black People; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008605:Mental Health Services; D011570:Psychiatry; D012944:Social Support; D006113:United Kingdom