How can general practice improve the mental health care experience of Black men in the UK?

Abstract

Recent global events have focused our attention on the many prejudices faced by Black men the world over. It beckons us all, whatever our modus operandi, to identify and seek to remedy injustices rooted in racial and ethnic bias. In June 2020, the RCGP published a statement of solidarity acknowledging the enduring problem of structural racism and recognising the need for change in the form of tangible action.1 In this statement, the RCGP commits to ‘highlighting and addressing poorer outcomes for BAME patients.’ So, we must ask ourselves: what can GPs actually do to improve the health outcomes of BAME patients? The considerations are manifold. However, we can start with one particular issue that is longstanding. Over several decades, evidence of disparities in the experiences of mental health care for Black men living in the UK has been extensively documented.2,3 Recent studies show minimal progress in achieving parity in mental health outcomes for this group compared to White patients. It is time to have a meaningful discussion in our primary care settings in order to better safeguard the mental health care and mental wellbeing of Black men. A Black man living in the UK and suffering from a mental illness will …