Ethnicity and learning difficulties

It has long been recognised that people from different ethnic groups receive different levels of care from mental-health services. People from ethnic minorities have higher rates of compulsory admission, longer average lengths of stay and are more likely to be prescribed drugs or ECT rather than psychotherapy or counselling. They are also less likely to use mental-health services in the first place. Ethnicity and learning disability is an under-researched area although what research there is suggests that services often offer a 'tokenistic' approach in meeting individual needs, resulting in under usage of service and creating a general environment of 'lack of engagement'.

You can read more about the existing research on this topic and plans for future research at

http://www.library.nhs.uk/ethnicity/viewResource.aspx?resid=296479&code=13e349d0c83a1a920e3672f92df146f0