Research watch: people of Black African and African Caribbean heritage in the UK and USA – psychosis, racism and inclusion

What is it about?

Previous research has highlighted that people who get a diagnosis of psychosis or schizophrenia have often experienced childhood trauma or later stressful circumstances. I describe three recent research papers focusing on the experiences of Black people living in the UK and USA with these diagnoses. One study illustrates how they too have experienced many stressful events, as well as racism. Another paper finds that Black men who are seen as 'disengaging' from mental health services felt hounded by these services, coerced to take medication, and not listened to. It suggested that services may need to change their approach. A third paper describes work with members of Black Caribbean communities in the UK to modify 'family intervention' for psychosis, to make it more culturally relevant.

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