New report warns structural racism is driving mental ill health

A major new report from the Centre for Mental Health (opens new window) has warned that local, regional and national governments must confront structural racism if they are to prevent worsening mental ill health among racialised communities.

The report, Shifting power, commissioned by the London Anti‑Racism Collaboration for Health and the citywide mental health partnership Thrive LDN, argues that racism functions as a daily stressor that harms mental health throughout life – from childhood to older age. It says that an increasingly hostile political climate and the rise in overt racism are compounding fear, exclusion and trauma across many communities.