Experiences of adults from a Black ethnic background detained as inpatients under the Mental Health Act (1983)

Objective: People from a Black ethnic (BE) background in England and Wales are disproportionately detained as inpatients under the United Kingdom’s Mental Health Act (MHA). Qualitative research into the lived experiences of this group is sparse. This study therefore aims to explore the experiences of people from a BE background detained under the MHA. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 self-identified adults from a BE background who were currently detained as inpatients under the MHA. Thematic analysis was used to identify themes across the interviews. Results: Four themes emerged from the interviews: ‘help is decided by others, not tailored to me’; ‘I am not a person - I am a Black patient’; ‘mistreated or neglected instead of cared for’; and ‘sectioning can be a space for sanctuary and support’. Conclusions and Implications for Practice: People from a BE background report inpatient detention to be a racist and racialised experience, inseparable from a wider context of systemic racism and inequality. Experiences of detention were also discussed in terms of stigma within BE families and communities, as well as social support that appeared to be lacking outside of hospital. Systemic racism must be addressed across mental health care, led by the lived experiences of BE people.