Thesis Title: Understanding Ethnicity and Intersectional Inequities in Mental Health Talking Therapies Access, through Linked Data Analysis
Abstract: In the UK, depression and anxiety affect nearly 20% of the population, posing significant personal and societal challenges. However, while psychological therapies offer effective interventions, equitable access to these services remains a challenge Recent findings from a report commissioned by the NHS Race and Health Observatory (NHSRHO) highlighted that racially minoritized people in England are less likely to access NHS talking therapies (NHSTT), have longer wait times for assessment, and are less likely to receive treatment and have poorer outcomes. These disparities among ethnic minority groups compared with White British counterparts prompt a critical examination of the position of NHSTT within the mental healthcare framework. This PhD aims to bridge the gap by investigating the intersectional dynamics that influence access to, experiences of, and outcomes of NHSTT. Utilizing linked data from MH services in southeast London and NHSTT records alongside 2011 census data, the project seeks to understand why individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds, alongside other sociodemographic factors such as age, gender, and religion, encounter difficulties in accessing NHSTT and achieving positive outcomes.
Primary Supervisor: Jayati Das-Munshi