A National Institute for Mental Health report has outlined some of the inequalities in mental health provision and new commitment to combat them.

A recent report has called for measures to tackle inequalities in mental health provision for black and minority ethnic (BME) groups.

According to a report to the Department of Health on improving mental health services for BME groups: "There does not appear to be a single area of mental health in this country in which black and minority ethnic groups fare as well as, or better than, the majority white community.

"Both in terms of service experience and the outcome of service interventions, they fare much worse than people from the ethnic majority do."

One in nine of Britain’s population have Black or ethnic minority background, and the report stated Black, Irish and other minority ethnic groups experience high levels of social and material deprivation compared with the majority white population, and in particular mental health is of concern.

The report called Inside/ Outside said people from BME backgrounds suffering from mental ill health were more likely to be diagnosed as suffering from severe mental illness than depression, be admitted to secure hospitals and under sections of the Mental Health Act, and be treated with medication rather than ‘talking’ therapies.

Although the inequalities have long been debated problems experienced by BME groups do not appear to have improved.

Inside/ Outside, published by the recently formed National Institute of Mental Health for England, was led by Sashi Sashidharan, a member of the government's mental health taskforce, which has approved the report's findings.

The report continued action was needed to tackle inequalities in mental health services. Research has suggested BME groups have poorer access to mental health services, although some appear to be at an increased risk of hospital admission.

The report suggested putting an emphasis on employing staff for mental health services from diverse cultural backgrounds and suggested patients presenting with mental health problems should have a right to be assessed in their preferred language.

Mental health charity Mind said the report's recommendations represented "important steps" towards tackling inequalities, but warned that stronger measures may be necessary to overcome institutionalised racism in the mental health system.

Inside/ Outside, the report published by NIMHE on improving services for black and minority ethnic people with mental health problems, is available from the NIMHE website at www.nimhe.org.uk.