Black people are three times more likely to be admitted to mental health hospitals compared with the rest of the population, a report says. A census of mental health services in England and Wales found that black African and Caribbean people were the groups most likely to be admitted for treatment. They were up to 44% more likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act, and also had an increased chance of experiencing seclusion or physical restraint while being cared for. But the report said that while the census demanded an explanation, it did not provide one. Concerns have been raised previously about increased use of mental health services by those from ethnic minority groups. The Count-Me-In mental health and ethnicity census was conducted jointly by the Healthcare Commission, the Mental Health Act Commission and the National Institute for Mental Health in England. Carried out on March 31, it covered almost 34,000 mental health inpatients using services provided by 102 NHS trusts and 110 independent providers. The report said that health officials were particularly worried by the number of black people coming to mental health services through the criminal justice system. The census showed that 79% of mental health inpatients were white British, with 9% black or of white-black mixed ethnicity. Admission rates were three times or more higher for black and white-black groups compared with the average, with rates for white British, Chinese or Indian groups lower than average. Overall, 4% of patients were referred to mental health services by police - with the risk of being referred this way almost double for black Caribbean and black African groups. The census found that 2.4% of patients were referred through the courts - but this was almost double in the black Caribbean group. In the three months before the census, 3% of all inpatients had been put in a closed room for their own safety at least once. But men from white British groups were less likely to be placed in seclusion, while men from black Caribbean, black African, other black groups and Indian groups were about 50% more likely to face seclusion than the average. Overall, 8% of patients had experienced one or more incidents of being controlled and restrained - but the rate was 29% higher than average for black Caribbean men. The report calls for the reasons behind the figures to be explored and tackled urgently. The report also says that mental health services must improve ethnic monitoring as part of their routine work so services best meet the needs of patients. Reprinted from bbccaribbean.com