Tackling the culture of mental care

The Nile Centre offers specialist care for black patients

By BBC News Online's community affairs reporter Cindi John

Maureen Evans is a woman determined to spread a more multi-cultural approach to mental illness.

She is in charge of the Nile Centre, a north London project that aims to help black people with mental health problems.

The centre was set up four years ago following research that showed a hugely disproportionate number of black people in Hackney were being diagnosed as schizophrenic and committed to mental health institutions.

Ms Evans said she was not convinced by new research showing psychiatrists were now less influenced by race when making diagnoses.

Maureen Evans: "Schizophrenia still diagnosed too often"

"We're still seeing so many people in here on a daily basis who have been given just one diagnosis: schizophrenia.

"I haven't seen anything to suggest doctors are exploring the reasons black people may be in mental health crisis is down to environmental pressures, family breakdown or their cultural or spiritual beliefs."

She added many white psychiatrists did not appreciate the deep-seated religious beliefs held by some people of African and Caribbean descent.

"If somebody said to a psychiatrist 'I spoke to God last night' they would probably interpret that as the patient being psyhotic.

"If they said that to us we'd say 'fine' let's talk about it,' said Ms Evans.

The Nile Centre attempted to address such issues through counselling as well as providing complementary therapies such as homeothapy, aromatherapy and other treatments, she added.

'Enforced melting pot'

Short term accommodation for up to nine people a time is also provided at the centre.

One current resident, Delroy, agreed a hospital environment was not always the best place for black patients.

He said he had bad experiences in a local hospital.

The centre offers short stay accommodation

"On at least two occasions I had to defend myself fighting on the ward, on one occasion I nearly had my leg broken," said the former university undergraduate.

Delroy described the hospital mental health care unit as an "enforced melting pot" where white people sometimes resented being locked up with black people.

Delroy is now one of around 1,200 people who have passed through the Nile Centre as residents or day patients in the last four years.

Another is Jennifer who said regular stays at the centre helped her to cope with depression.

"I've been coming here for nearly two years now and they've been good to me.

"They helped me to get my flat, they're the only people I've got so I appreciate that," she said.