What is being done?

In addition to the failings it recorded it also offered remedies that would go some way to changing the practice of mental health and ethos of mental health services to make them acceptable to people of all races. The following recommendations were made:

• Changing professional training in order to assess its western emphasis and whether embedded racist attitudes exist
  
• Remodeling the process of mental health assessment in order to in regards to peoples spirituality and their spiritual needs
  
• Reducing the power given to the 'diagnostic system, especially that of defining 'schizophrenia'
  
• Minimising institutional racism in service provision
  
• Altering the power within the mental health workforce
  
• Employing more black and minority ethnic staff
  
• Reducing racism in sectioning procedures, especially in the forensic field
  
• Incorporating and anti-racist element in risk assessment
  
• Strengthening the funding and organisation of the black voluntary sector

Progress made so far

While the black voluntary sector have done well in leading the development of culturally appropriate services, the statutory sector are still lagging well behind. The recommendations made by Inside / Outside were well received but the report gave no real practical information on how these changes should be made. At present those ways are being discussed, agreed upon and put into action.

The Afiya Trust
The Afiya Trust is a national charity that is concerned with eradicating institutional racism in healthcare. In 2004 it was given the responsibility of setting up a National Mental Health Network for Black Communities. The network aims to reduce inequality and promote good practice in mental health for black and minority ethnic groups. Afiya Trust