A third of BAME staff working in mental health services in the NHS face racial abuse during work

In the annual NHS staff survey that was carried out by the Royal College of Psychiatrists, after analysing their data they found that in 2020 many BAME NHS workers in the mental health service have received racial abuse whilst at work.

When analysing the data, the following information found was:

• A third (32.7%) of 16,165 ethnic minority respondents experienced harassment, bullying or abuse at work from patients/service users, their relatives or other members of the public.

• A fifth (19.6%) of 15,985 ethnic minority respondents experienced harassment, bullying or abuse at work from other colleagues.

• More than 1 in 8 (13.2%) of 16,031 ethnic minority respondents experienced harassment, bullying or abuse at work from managers.

• Around 4 in 10 (37.9%) of 6,287 people of ethnic minority didn’t report the harassment, bullying or abuse the last time it happened.

• 86% of staff from ethnic minorities in mental health trusts who experienced discrimination said it was based on their ethnic background.

Due to these findings the Royal College of Psychiatrists are urging that the NHS will do something to resolve this.

Dr Adrian James, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists has expressed his concern over these findings:

"This analysis is deeply concerning and shows the NHS has a long way to go in improving conditions and opportunities for career progression are available to everyone, not just white people". - Dr Adrian James

Dr Adrian James continues by saying: “NHS leaders and local health bosses must tackle this head on while also improving conditions for ethnic minority people working in mental health”.

Within the analysis it was also confirmed that due to the challenges many BAME staff are facing, it is halting their career progression.

Dr Lade Smith, presidential lead for race equality at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, has shared what NHS leaders should do to address this, she said:

"Healthcare leaders must begin to tackle the insidious racism and discrimination that can take place in the workplace. They must develop robust reporting processes, that staff can feel confident in using, aimed at supporting demonstrable improvements.” - Dr Lade Smith

You can read the data from this survey here