Research roundup: Race, criminal justice and severe mental illness
In light of recent events in the news involving race, police encounters and severe mental illness, we are resharing some of our own relevant research, in case you missed it.
Research Weekly: April Research Roundup
The main finding in our research of the month in April concerned populations receiving mental health services in the Los Angeles County Jail. Researchers found that black jail inmates accounted for 41% of those receiving mental health services.
RESEARCH WEEKLY: Misdiagnosis of Schizophrenia in African Americans
The findings of a 2019 Rutgers University study suggest that African Americans are more likely to be misdiagnosed with schizophrenia. Researchers say that physicians tend to overemphasize psychotic symptoms in African Americans and under-emphasize symptoms of depression. Routine screenings for major depression in outpatient community clinics could help reduce racial inequities in schizophrenia diagnosis.
RESEARCH WEEKLY: Minorities with Mental Illness and Diabetes
“Another year, another drumbeat of reports on the heavier burdens that racial and ethnic minorities experience when they have a serious mental illness.” That was our conclusion we drew from studies that found that black and Hispanic people with severe mental illness are twice as likely to develop diabetes than white people. This report came on the heels of another study of 215,000 mental health clients reporting that access to mental health treatment was worse for ethnic minorities.