Positive Steps online
Supporting race equality in mental healthcare

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Welcome > welcome

• Welcome to the Positive Steps online guide to Delivering Racial Equality in mental health care. Compiled with the help of healthcare staff and service users, this resource can be used by anyone working in mental health, primary and social care.

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Welcome > Background

• Every person, whatever their background, should expect to receive the same standard of care from mental health services. However, evidence suggests that this does not always happen and that the treatment experience of patients from different sections of the community can vary. For example, research confirms that some Black and minority ethnic (BME) service users have disproportionately high rates of admission to in-patient services and are more likely to experience detention. Black patients have also reported a worse experience of care in mental hospitals compared with other ethnic groups. The reasons for this situation are complex and not fully understood. What we do know is that the treatment received by service users should be tailored to their individual needs and not be affected by other factors.

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Welcome > Delivering race equality

Delivering Race Equality (DRE) in Mental Health Care is the Government's plan for ensuring that every person receives the same standard of care from mental health services

It is based on three connected building blocks:
     More appropriate and responsive services - achieved through actions to develop organisations and the workforce
     Community engagement - delivered through healthier communities and action to engage communities in planning services
     Better information - improved monitoring of ethnicity, better dissemination of information and good practice and improved knowledge about good services

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Positive Steps

The Positive Steps initiative, of which this online resource is an important part, is designed to share information about DRE in a simple and practical way. Good practice in building community relations already exists throughout the mental healthcare system. Positive Steps will give practitioners access to the many good ideas that are already making a difference to services across the country. Compiled with the help of care staff and service users, this resource contains hints and tips for simple things that can be done to improve treatment for all patients

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