What works to support better access to mental health services (from primary care to inpatients) for minority groups to reduce inequalities? A rapid evidence summary

Abstract

It is estimated that one in four people will experience poor mental health throughout their lifetimes. However, ethnic minority groups, refugees and asylum seekers experience more barriers accessing mental health services and have poorer mental health outcomes than those from non-ethnic minority groups. Evidence suggests that interventions that improve access and engagement with mental health services may help reduce disparities affecting ethnic minority groups, refugees and asylum seekers. Thus, the aim of this rapid evidence summary was to explore the literature on what works to support better access to mental health services for ethnic minority groups, refugees and asylum seekers to reduce inequalities. The review included interventions that were developed or assessed to improve equity in access, engagement, utilisation, or provision of mental health services. Research Implications and Evidence Gaps: There is limited review evidence regarding the effectiveness of interventions to improve access to mental healthcare across ethnic minority groups. Review evidence regarding interventions to support refugees and asylum seekers access to primary healthcare or specialised clinics (for example pregnancy and postpartum) is available, but the findings related to mental health care cannot be extracted.