Why the increase rate of mental disorder among the black community in the uk. Josephine Saidu formerly of the Sierra Leone Broadcasting Service presently studing Journalism in London, look into some of the causes. In the olden days, medical practitioners diagnosed and treated patients infected with disease of some parts of the body such as infected toes, congested lungs or disease of the heart. Today, there is a new dimension to health care which is holistic in a sense. Culture and tradition are also responsible to an extent for such a phenomena.

In the African or black countries, it is very rare to hear of paedophilia, children truancy or many of the hazards which are seen on the radio, TV or in some publications. Coping with some of these short-comings can be very disastrous not only for the blacks, but others exposed to them. For instance a child or a young person struggling in an abusive situation, eating disorders, or to cope with the diagnosis of HIV/AIDS, are sure to loose their self-esteem or confidence, more especially if they cannot find an appropriate and trusted person to talk to. In this article, I will attempt to focus on what is actually responsible for this malaise, which the ethnic minorities particularly the black, are so concern about.

Mental Health practitioner’s are still researching to find out the cause or causes. Some experts believe that the causes of what makes a person go mental is still not known and mental illness has still not been clearly defined, although it is believed that this problem is triggered by poverty, drug abuse and narcotic substance abuse and to some extent stress or stress related problems or violence. Poverty and drug abuse are considered as two of the main factors - it has no barrier, age, gender or race, although it is more prevalence among the blacks. Survey has shown, that mental illness is common among those in the lower economic status, although the elderly blacks are more affected, because of environmental situation.

Others use abuse substance as they put it, to help build their self assertiveness and confidence, not knowing that it is the reverse because once the effect of the drug has worn out, the victim is left more damaged than he or she was before. Peer groups influence can also lead to drug abuse, this is though common with youths and young people who are vulnerable and easily manipulated, ‘if you refuse to join the gang you are not one of us’, and because they feel isolated and out of touch they became depress and suicidal. Those who are drug abusers can be violent without being provoked and may end up mental, if help is not sought before the abuse become chronic.

Most people who show straits of violence and aggression come from an aggressive background or may have experienced some sort of abuse in their lives either physical or sexual. Some parents because of poverty expose their children to abuse, exhibiting abusive tendency and aggression, leaving them more confused or frustrated and as such may lead to involvement in act of physical brutality, in extreme cases murder. Confused cultures can be another factor leading to drug abuse. This can sometimes result in wrong diagnosis by mental practitioner.

Some of them are not au-fait with the culture of certain race. Some people as soon as they left their homes especially those heading for what is known as the “first world” tend to ignore, neglect or totally forget their cultures, which are even foreign to their children. It is even worst, in cross culture families. To keep our society caps on, it is better to go back to our root. The sooner the better.