THE LAST twelve months has shown the horrible consequences of the racism ingrained in our society. A virus that disproportionality kills people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, the murder of George Floyd leading to the rise of Black Lives Matter and a greater deterioration in Black, Asian and minority ethnic men’s mental health during the pandemic. But the corrosiveness of racism does not stop there.   

Black people are much more likely to be diagnosed with psychosis and are four times more likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act, with racism likely to play a part. The College is working to combat these inequalities by equipping mental health services with the guidance they need to improve access, experience, and outcomes.

Six in ten Black, Asian and minority ethnic psychiatrists said they experience racism at work.

Dr Lade Smith

But little has been said about the racism experienced by psychiatrists working on the frontline of mental health care and the effect this has on them, their colleagues, and their patients.  

Racism is everywhere

Racism doesn’t stop at the thresholds of mental health services. It seeps into waiting areas and assessment rooms. It lurks in the institutions and organisational structures where psychiatrists of minority ethnic backgrounds work.  

Of those who responded to our recent survey (283 responded), six in ten Black, Asian and minority ethnic psychiatrists said they experience racism at work. Many of them told us that the racist remarks, behaviours, and actions they are subjected to make them feel stressed, worthless, and humiliated. Their morale, confidence and quality of work were greatly affected, undoubtedly impacting patient care.  

Each upsetting and morale sapping act causes psychiatrists to dread work, to be signed off and, in some cases, to move jobs or leave the profession altogether. This could mean people waiting even longer for lifesaving mental health treatment and could leave services without the workforce they need to tackle the mental health crisis caused by COVID-19.

But colleagues and managers are just as culpable in these acts, albeit in more subtle and covert ways. Psychiatrists often receive disparaging comments, find their shortcomings are exaggerated and their achievements are minimised.  

Is racism just part of the job?

Much of this goes unreported. Our survey suggests that just over a quarter of Black, Asian and minority ethnic psychiatrists who experience racism report it. Shockingly, only one in five saw a change as a result. Far from thinking that this is something that should be challenged or will be changed, our members seemingly resign themselves to the lie that racism is to be expected and that it is part of their job.  

The recently published Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Equality Action Plan sets out the steps we will take to stamp out the racism and discrimination experienced by our Black, Asian and minority ethnic members. These measures will also improve patient care. This includes calling for mandatory training about the impact of unconscious bias on decision making and structural inequalities. We will also look at data around training, progression, and leadership to understand and eliminate discrimination in the workplace.  

While we are far from our destination of a mental health system free from the corrosiveness of racism, we are making significant steps to help improve the experiences of all members regardless of their race or ethnicity – something that will undoubtedly result in better care for patients living with a mental illness.  

You can read the full report into the racism psychiatrists experience in the workplace here.