THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF CULTURALLY SENSITIVE PSYCHIATRIC-SERVICES

The recent re-structuring of the British National Health Service (NHS) involving a greater emphasis on community treatment has not specifica lly taken account of the unequal access to mental health services expe rienced by black people. The greater use amongst black people of compu lsory orders, police involvement and reliance on psychotropic medicati on, although well established, has not influenced policy or led to a s trategy to ensure that services appropriately meet the needs of the cu lturally diverse population in this country. We present the literature on service utilisation by black people and emphasise potential soluti ons in areas with which black people are dissatisfied. The service str uctures, ideology and mechanisms presented form the foundations of goo d practice.