The poorest children are four times as likely to have a mental health difficulty as the wealthiest.
Black people are many times more likely to be subject to the Mental Health Act.
People with autism, learning disabilities and long-term physical health problems have higher rates of mental ill health that are often never even identified.
At Centre for Mental Health, we’re committed to working tirelessly until equality for mental health is a reality. We know that the chances of any of us having poor mental health are closely associated with a range of social, economic, ethnic and health inequalities in our lives. And the support offered for mental health difficulties and the outcomes associated with it are too often unequal.
With the generous support of the Elliott Simmons Charitable Trust, Centre for Mental Health established a commission to investigate inequalities in mental health. The commission sought evidence about a range of inequalities in mental health, and produced a series of briefings exploring specific inequalities, what is known about their causes and how they might be reduced or eradicated.
Final report: Mental health for all?
Inequalities in health, including mental health, have been highlighted in national reports for at least 40 years. But despite multiple policies and programmes to address them, these inequalities persist.
Mental Health for All? highlights that effective action is possible, setting out what a system designed for equality would look like, and how communities, local organisations, public services and national government can work together to generate change at scale.
Briefing 1: Determinants of mental health
Why do some groups of people have a much higher risk of mental health difficulties – and what can we do to reduce the disparities?
This first briefing from the Centre’s Commission for Equality in Mental Health finds that mental health inequalities are closely linked to wider injustices in society.
Download the first briefing and infographics sheet
Briefing 2: Access to mental health support
Why are groups that face higher levels of poor mental health experiencing the greatest difficulty in accessing services? And what can we do to ensure that everyone is able to access the right mental health support for them?
The second briefing shares ideas that could improve access to support for people who experience inequalities.
Briefing 3: Inequalities of experience and outcomes
Why do people with poorer mental health often get the least effective help?
The third and final briefing looks at inequalities in outcomes from mental health services, and looks at what can be done to bring about more equal outcomes and experiences from mental health support.
