Race
Find out about race and its relationship to health
The word race refers to the group you belong to, or are perceived to belong to. This word is commonly used in legal contexts. The term ethnicity refers to a common group which you identify with, due to cultural, language, religious or other characteristics.
Race and Ethnicity can have a variety of impacts on a person's health, from the way they are treated in the health service to a person's susceptibility to conditions or diseases. There is evidence which says that certain health conditions including high blood pressure, diabetes and coronary heart disease (CHD)are more common in Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities living in Britain and therefore these communities are at higher risk of ill health than the rest of the population.
This page is designed to share information with partners working with the health service in Scotland. Below are some resources which look at race and ethnicity and their relationship to health.
Resources
Mosaics of Meaning 2010
This guide for health improvement practitioners describes how a series of interventions delivered by the NHS, voluntary sector and user-led organisations in Glasgow sought to tackle stigma in mental health with BME communities.
Black Leadership Network Pilot Project Report
This evaluation examines a pilot project (‘the Pilot’) run by the Equalities and Planning Directorate (EPD) of NHS Health Scotland between September 2008 and March 2009. The Pilot was aimed at supporting selected Boards by revisiting their Race Equality Schemes (RESs) in the run up to the three year review requirements, as well as providing ongoing support to those Boards and assisting EPD in assessing race equality progress. This was done by commissioning four members of the Black Leadership Network in Scotland to provide support to pilot Boards using a consultancy and peer review model. Part of this work also included writing an overview report.
Overview report from the Black Leadership Network:
"Still a Fair Way to go" (A discussion paper)
National Resource Centre for Ethnic Minority Health final report
The final report of the National Resource Centre for Ethnic Minority Health (whose work is now taken forward by the Equalities & Planning Directorate) summarises some of the achievements of the Centre and its partners over its 6 years of working life. The fourth chapter of the report presents a summary of the recommendations of NHS equality leads for ensuring future progress on race equality and health in Scotland.
New European Migrants and the NHS Training Manual
This DVD resource shows the issues typically faced by new migrants when they use the NHS, and should go some way to increasing this shared understanding between NHS staff and new European migrants.
Are You Really Listening?
Stories about stigma, discrimination and resilience toward mental health problems in black and minority ethnic communities in Scotland. Practical Guide Sheet for "Are you Really Listening".
Asylum Seekers and Refugees Resources Pack
This resource pack is a loose-leaf folder containing useful information for frontline health care staff about the health and cultural needs of asylum seekers and refugees. It provides background on the asylum process and guidance on access to appropriate health care and other services.
BME Recovery - Men in Mind
This report comes from a project looking at black and minority ethnic (BME) communities in Edinburgh.
BME - Mental Health in Lothian
This report also comes from a project looking at BME communities in Edinburgh.
BME - Mental Health and Race Equality Programme outline
The National Resource Centre for Ethnic Minority Health (NRCEMH) has hosted a mental health programme in partnership with the Scottish Government Mental Health Division and NHS Health Scotland since 2003 in recognition of the fact that mental health and wellbeing are areas of particular concern across BME communities in Scotland.
Diabetes - Full Report
Diabetes is now being recognised as a public health problem of potentially enormous proportions. This poses significant clinical and economic challenges for the NHS. According to UK studies, the prevalence (the proportion of a population affected by a disease at any one time) of diabetes is higher in some Minority Ethnic Groups. View Diabetes - Summary Report
Equal Services Summary
Summary report on Race Equality Assessment of Mental Health.
Ethnic Monitoring Toolkit
This Ethnic Monitoring Tool is targeted at NHS staff who may be involved in the collection of information on ethnicity and the use of classifications in relation to their Race Equality Action Plan.
Fair Enough
Review of Race Equality Schemes and Fair for All Action plans. Briefing for NHS Scotland Emloyees.
Glasgow BME Recovery Part 1
Glasgow BME Recovery Report Part 2
The main aim of this project was to explore the understanding of the concepts of recovery by people from the BME Communities.
Mosaics of Meaning
This summarises partnership work involving NRCEMH to explore stigma and discrimination towards mental health problems in BME communities in Glasgow.
Now we're talking: Interpreting guidelines for NHS staff (this publication may take a few minutes to load)
This guidance should provide the basics necessary for health care staff to use interpreting services effectively.
Patient Record of Personal Information
Gypsy Travellers in Scotland asked for a portable health care record to improve their access to health care, particularly when they are travelling.
Changing Minds-Conference Report - 19 March 2008
This report is intended for the delegates and other key stakeholders as an evaluation on the successes and shortcomings of the Changing Minds conference. It will also be used by Health Scotland staff to help inform the planning and delivery of future events.
Promoting Awareness - Perceptions of Mental Health Needs of Black and Ethnic Minority Communities in Glasgow
This is an assessment of the mental health needs of selected ethnic minorities in Glasgow and their perception of existing mental health services.
See what the Equality and Human Rights Commission (external link) is doing to tackle race discrimination and promote race equality.
Reviewed 1 August 2010