In its regular series ‘Early Morning Scares for the Vulnerable’, to be taken 9 times every day, today’s episode was:
‘BME people get worse mental health service’
Based as always on a scientific sample of something like ‘some of those who work in the community’ and who have spoken to BBC Scotland, they were able to claim:
‘Black and minority ethnic (BME) groups in Scotland face unequal access to mental health services, people working in the community have told the BBC. They said a lack of targeted support also resulted in worse treatment options. Consultant psychiatrist Prof Sashi Sashidharan said there was a huge gap in the data available on ethnicity.’
Leaving aside the prof’s apparent disregard for the discriminatory nature of collecting data on ethnicity alongside that on health concerns, the report lacks the required evidence-base, beyond the usual anecdotal sources.
As a consequence of their failure to research the topic properly, BBC Scotland find themselves making incorrect comments such as:
‘They said that meant more people were being sectioned or experiencing more extreme forms of psychiatric treatment.’
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-45565034
As often before, quite speedy searching finds proper research which contradicts the BBC report.
I am of course not doubting the sincerity of the doctors interviewed nor the probability that discrimination against minorities extends into this area too, but I am, as ever, doubting BBC Scotland’s motives and their competence.
‘Fundamental facts about mental health 2016’ by the Mental Health Foundation, based on extensive studies by recognised researchers, provides us with reliable evidence and it often contradicts the BBC report.
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/fundamental-facts-about-mental-health-2016
Fewer people being sectioned in Scotland?
With regard to the claim of more BME people being sectioned and experiencing more extreme forms of treatment, see this:
‘Between 2014 and 2015, there has been an increase in the total number of people admitted under the Mental Health Act. In England this increased by 10% and in Wales, it increased by 14% while Northern Ireland and Scotland saw a decrease of 0.9472 and 5.7% respectively.’ (p73)
So, were the sources doctors who had worked in NHS England, where such practice may well be increasing?
Better organisation of mental health care in Scotland?
So, there is a marked trend in Scotland toward reduced admission, including sectioning, in Scotland, contrary to the trend elsewhere in the UK. Why might this be? See this:
‘Improving Access to Psychological Therapies. The IAPT programme was launched in 2008 with the aim of improving the quality and accessibility of mental health services in the UK by focusing on providing improved access to psychological treatments – primarily talking therapies (e.g. CBT, counselling and self-help support). IAPT pathways vary in each of the devolved nations. For instance, Scotland has set Local Delivery Plan Standards for NHS boards to increase access to psychological therapies.’ (p74)
Is the situation in NHS Scotland once more in advance of the non-Scottish parts?
What about funding of Mental Health care in Scotland?
‘In 2015, Community Care reported that the funding across mental health NHS trusts dropped by 8.25%, in real terms, between 2010–11 and 2014–15.586 In addition, according to a BBC Freedom of Information request published in 2016, the funding for mental health in the UK has fallen by only 2% from 2013–14 to 2014–15. For 2015, mental health spending in Scotland has increased by just 0.1% and is projected [by whom?] to fall by 0.4% in 2016. In contrast, spending in Wales decreased by 1.1% in 2014–15 and is expected to rise by 1.2% in 2015–16.’ (p88)
So, under SNP government, the funding of mental health care has been sustained against a background of falling funding elsewhere in the UK.
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/fundamental-facts-about-mental-health-2016
Talking-up Scotland 
Body parts! Medical waste is being dumped! That’s what radio Scotland 9am news is given me. While carefully listening to the actual report, after the implication that it is rife in Scotland, two sites in Shotts and Dundee, it turns out there is not a problem in Scotland, that any waste is securely stored, but the company that is getting criticised for sites in England – where the problem is – is based in Shotts. Why not say that in the first place instead of fudging it to sound like Scotland has a crisis?
Unconscious bias my backside.
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Unconscious bias my backside – I like it!
Sub-conscious then?
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Well said! I only heard snippets of GMS today, but I heard the bit about the body parts, and the issue seemed to be that the company is based in Shotts. As you say, the situation in Scotland appears to under control. The only comment was provided by Yvette Cooper MP, who, although born in Inverness, was brought up in England and sits for an English constituency. Her comment was pretty measured, but assertive. It was a guilt by implication story.
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The BBC that operates in Scotland is the enemy of truth and informed debate.
I would imagine their newsrooms resemble the re-education gulags in North Korea and Xinjiang.
Or perhaps Fox news when The Donald is watching!
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BBC Scotland claim “Freddie Starr ate my unconscious bias”
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With regard to the BAME report
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Apologies, my finger flicked the wrong key.
With regard to the BAME report, as I said in my reply to contrary, I only heard snippets of GMS this morning, and this was one where I missed the intro and conclusion, but I heard a couple of interviews and it seemed to me that the bits of these that I heard were actually quite supportive of the attempts in Scotland to deal with the issue. Thanks for putting this into context.
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Thanks for adding this. Helpful context.
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Freddie Starr claimed BBC Scotland ate his consciousness
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Or maybe even Freddie’s hamster’s consciousness? – Are there no depths to which beeb Scotland won’t stoop?
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I thought I was lowering the tone using backside! Obviously not!! 😀
What are you doing to your website John, it keeps going funny, I did a big clear out of Internet stuff, but the glitches still appeared – gone for now right enough – do you need to consult your IT expert? Or perhaps it is their fault…
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Eh…switch off wait ten seconds then switch on again?
Actually, I have been messing about….setting up a blog for a friend……Wordpress seemed to have trouble with the concept…..one of his stories appeared in my blog and after I set his up it wouldn’t let me access it at all……………………..
I don’t think you can lower my tone…but….
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Since the Ruth Davidson (Scottish Conservative and Unionist) Party* has started a campaign to oppose Mr Boris Johnson, ‘Operation Arse’, the BBC will now been the word perfectly acceptable. However, you cannot use the word ‘b*m’ or rhyming slang like ‘chorus and verse’.
*that is, except the ones that support Mr Johnson.
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