Biological Psychology

Why do BAME/non-White people have differing instances of mental health?

It has been well documented that there are differences in instances of mental health amongst ethnic minorities, but what are the reasons behind this?

Factors that can influence mental health in BAME/non-White individuals:

Racism and discrimination
Social and economic inequaltites:
- Experiencing poverty and homelessness
- Doing less well at school
- Unemployment
- In contact with the criminal justice system
- Challenges accessing services
Stigma around mental health

Barriers in getting support in BAME/non-White individuals:

Not recognising they have a mental illness because mental health was stigmatised or never talked about in their community
Not knowing that help is available, or where to go to get it
Language barriers
Turning to family or friends rather than professional support, especially for people who don’t trust formal healthcare services
Financial barriers, such as paying for private counselling
Not feeling listened to or understood by healthcare professionals
White professionals not understanding their experiences of racism or discrimination

It's important to note that some groups have better mental health:

Indian, Pakistani and African-Caribbean people have higher levels of mental wellbeing than other ethnic groups
Suicidal thoughts and self-harm were less common in Asian people than White people
Mental illness is lower among Chinese people than White people

Research

Mental Health FoundationLink opens in a new window

Memon et al., (2016) Perceived barriers to accessing mental health services among black and minority ethnic (BME) communitiesLink opens in a new window

Videos

Mental health disparities among minorities and how to reduce themLink opens in a new window

TED Talk - Challenges and rewards of a culturally-informed approach to mental healthLink opens in a new window

V S Ramachandran

Mirror therapy

Ramachandran invented mirror therapy to treat amputee patients suffering from phantom limb pain. A visual, and ultimately psychological, illusion is created of two intact limbs by placing the intact limb in a "mirror box" with a mirror down the middle, with the reflection of the intact limb creating the illusion. By viewing and moving the intact limb, the patient imagines that the amputated limb is also visible and moving, an artificial visual feedback is created to reduce symptoms of phantom limb pain.

Research

Ramachandran and Rogers-Ramachandran (1996), Synaesthesia in phantom limbs induced with mirrorsLink opens in a new window

Guenther (2016), It's all done with mirrorsLink opens in a new window

Videos

Video: TED Talk: The neurons that shaped civilizationLink opens in a new window

Video: Ramachandran on the Mirror Neuron EffectLink opens in a new window

Video: Mirror boxLink opens in a new window

Aphasia in stroke patients

Aphasia in stroke patients with Bengali-speaking participants

Post-stroke aphasia in Bengali speakers has not been reported in literature prior to this study. This study found that post-stroke aphasia in Bengali speakers was quite frequent, with Broca's aphasia being the most common type.

Lahiri et al., (2019). Incidence and types of aphasia after first-ever acute stroke in Bengali speakers.Link opens in a new window

Understanding mental illness in Arabic cultures

This article provides insights into the current Arabic Psychology scenario. It highlights theoretical, clinical and cross-cultural aspects. It also provides comparisons with Western world practices.

Sayed (2002). Arabic psychiatry and psychology.Link opens in a new window

Psychological trauma amongst Punjabi Sikhs

Research suggests that physical and psychological trauma are not independent from one another. The sample for this study was a group of Punjabi-Sikh survivors of human rights violations. The findings pointed towards the connections between physical and psychological trauma, emphasising the need of an interdisciplinary methodology towards torture treatment.

Rasmussen et al. (2007). The effects of torture-related injuries on long-term psychological distress in a Punjabi Sikh sample.Link opens in a new window

Postnatal depression in Bengali women

The aim of this study was to screen for postnatal depression in a sample of Bengali women in Bangladesh and England. It used a Bengali version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. The findings did not provide evidence that postnatal screenings are an appropriate method of identifying postnatal distress among Bengali women.

Fuggle et al., (2010). Screening for postnatal depression in Bengali women.Link opens in a new window

Research Question

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Method

Comparing people's beliefs about mental illness

Comparing British Indians and White British people's beliefs about mental illness

This study found that British Indians agreed more with supernatural explanations for poor health. This may show some of the cultural influences on perception of health, illness and mental health.

Jobanputra and Furnam (2005). British Gujarati Indian immigrants' and British caucasians' beliefs about health and illness.Link opens in a new window

Suicidal thoughts amongst Nigerian youth

This study looked at suicidal tendencies among Nigerian Yorùbá youths. The results found that suicidal thoughts were linked with hopelessness. This may be due to differences in perspective between the youth and other generations. Culture specific interventions may be helpful.

Lawrence, (2021). Structural equation modelling of risk indicators for suicidal thoughts and behaviours among Nigerian Yoruba youth.Link opens in a new window