Delivering race equality: a framework for action: mental health services consultation document

This draft framework, which is being issued for consultation, sets out what those planning, delivering and monitoring local primary care and mental health services need to do to improve services for users experiencing mental illness and distress, and their relatives and carers, from Black and minority ethnic communities. There is clear evidence that these users and their relatives and carers experience inequitable services and outcomes. The document focuses on achieving improvements in three generic aspects of delivery (information, appropriate and responsive services and community engagement). These are termed the ‘building blocks’ as they are fundamental to delivering improvements in the outcomes and experiences of Black and minority ethnic users and their carers and relatives. The document then looks in detail at three specialist areas (suicide, pathways to care and acute inpatient care) of particular concern.