Risk of psychotic disorders up to five times greater for people from ethnic minorities – UK study

People from ethnic minorities have up to a five times greater risk of psychotic disorders than the white British population, researchers say.

A new study reveals that the trend holds in both urban and rural settings, with first-generation migrants who arrive in the UK in childhood among those at increased risk.

The team behind the study say a number of factors could be at play, including stresses related to the migration process, discrimination and issues related to isolation and integration.

James Kirkbride, a psychiatric epidemiologist from University College London and co-author of the research, described the figures as shocking.

It’s time to tackle mental health inequality among black people

“If this was any other disorder we would be horrified and up in arms and we would be campaigning from a public health perspective on how we could reduce this level of suffering,” he said. “There is a massive health inequality and it hasn’t got much attention.”

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