Evidence shows that Black and minority ethnic people, particularly those in Black groups, are over-represented in mental health pathways, meaning they are more likely to be diagnosed with severe mental illness, are more likely to receive compulsory treatment, and are more likely to experience adverse care outcomes.
Professor Sir Simon Wessely was invited by the government to carry out an Independent Review of the Mental Health Act, which reported in 2018. The review found that profound ethnic inequalities exist within the mental health system, and concluded ‘that structural factors which engender racism, stigma and stereotyping increase the risk of differential experiences in Black and minority ethnic communities.’ Although the review made some recommendations to correct these inequalities, it also accepted there is a long way to go in developing our understanding before they can be truly rectified.
To help tackle these inequities, we have established an expert advisory group, responsible for guiding our commissioning, helping to influence policy, and amplifying our impact in tackling mental health inequities.
Mental Health Advisory Group
Professor JS Bamrah
Professor JS Bamrah
TBC
Steve Gilbert
Steve Gilbert
TBC
Evelyn Asante-Mensah
Evelyn Asante-Mensah
Evelyn was appointed Chair of Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, which runs mental health and learning disability services across Greater Manchester, in 2017.
She has worked at a senior level in health, education and housing, as well as the voluntary and community sectors, for over 25 years. During this time Evelyn has contributed to the development and implementation of policy at local, regional and national level. She currently sits on the national NHS Confederation Mental Health Network board.
Among her notable roles, Evelyn was chair of Central Manchester Primary Care Trust and then NHS Manchester over a 12 year period, also holding a board-level role at Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust.
Evelyn is passionate about tackling inequalities in health and social care and promoting equality and diversity. She is a member of the NHS Confederation Black Leadership Network and was previously a Commissioner on the Equality and Human Rights Commission. She is also co-chair of the BAME Advisory Group for NHS North West.
Evelyn was awarded an OBE in 2006 for services to ethnic minorities in the field of health.
Sophie Baker
Sophie Baker
Sophie is an Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funded PhD candidate and researcher at Bangor University who is interested in individual, community and policy level approaches to reducing mental health inequalities. She has experience conducting qualitative and quantitative research in academic, government and charity sectors. Her current research explores the link between minority group identity and psychosis.
Cath Gormally
Cath Gormally
TBC
Dania Hanif
Dania Hanif
TBC
Sarah Hughes
Sarah Hughes
Sarah has worked in mental health and criminal justice for 34 years. After originally training as a social worker Sarah has spent the majority of her career in the voluntary sector within both community and secure settings. Sarah became CEO of CPSL Mind in 2004 and has also led the prestigious think tank The Centre for Mental Health. She also holds advisory and board roles with organisations including the FA, Kooth PLC and IIMHL. Sarah is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Sciana and Salzburg Global. She is also a social commentator and has been invited to speak at many international events. In 2022 she achieved her professional doctorate studying women and leadership.
Jinjer Kandola
Jinjer Kandola
Jinjer joined Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust in July 2017 as Chief Executive. In October 2021, Jinjer also became Chief Executive of neighbouring Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust and now leads both Trusts, who are working together as the North London Mental Health Partnership.
Jinjer is a member of the North Central London Integrated Care Board and is the Integrated Care System Mental Health Lead. She is also a member of the NHS Policy Board and Joint Chair of the London Social Partnership Forum. In 2021, she was awarded an MBE for her services to mental health.
Professor Frank Keating
Professor Frank Keating
Frank Keating is a Professor of Social Work and Mental Health in the Department of Law and Criminology at Royal Holloway University of London. His main research interests are ethnicity, gender, ageing and mental health, particularly focusing on African and Caribbean communities. He recently completed a National Institute for Health Research funded study to investigate socially oriented approaches to mental health recovery for African and Caribbean men. Frank is a strong advocate for racial equality in mental health services through his writing, teaching and public speaking.
Dr Trudi Seneviratne OBE
Dr Trudi Seneviratne OBE
Dr Trudi Seneviratne (OBE, FRCPsych) has been Registrar of the College since 2020. In this role she has overall responsibility for policy, public education, revalidation and membership engagement.
Trudi qualified as a medical practitioner in 1992, having trained at St Bartholomew’s Medical School, London; she completed her psychiatric training both at St. Bartholomew’s and later, as a research registrar at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN).
Dr Trudi Seneviratne has been a consultant adult and perinatal psychiatrist at South London & Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust since 2002. She is also the Clinical Director for the Psychological Medicine Clinical Academic Group and Lewisham Directorate at the Trust, supporting the clinical, academic and educational aspects of a range of services: general adult, liaison, crisis, rehabilitation services and specialist services: Neuropsychiatry, Eating disorders, Perinatal.
She has been an active educator over the years and with colleagues, has published/disseminated numerous research papers, particularly in the area of perinatal mental health. She has collaborated on a range of activities including service development, the use of mother and infant interaction videos, service evaluation, quality improvement and outcomes research. She has held national leadership and management roles; she is a current member and previous vice-chair of the National Clinical Reference Group, NHS England; Chair of The Perinatal Faculty, Royal College Psychiatrists (2016-2020).
In 2019, she was awarded an Order of the British Empire for services to Perinatal Psychiatry and the President’s medal of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
She enjoys the arts as a way of relaxing particularly music and painting and actively promotes the importance of arts therapies as therapeutic modalities.
You can email Trudi at registrar@rcpsych.ac.uk
Dr Shublade Smith
Dr Shublade Smith
TBC
Usha Sood
Usha Sood
Usha is a retired University law academic, and a practising human rights and family barrister, and head of Trent Chambers, Nottingham. She has significant experience of mental health through her practice, including Court of Protection work.
She was a non-executive director of Nottingham Healthcare Trust for 7 years till 2000 (covering all mental health and elderly services). Roles included being Chair of Quality Committee, and Chair of Managers Panels for detention of patients under the Mental Health Act’.