Written by Hanan Roble, Wellbeing Panel Member for the Awarding Gap Project
Misread, misjudged, mistreated. Black individuals crucially receive unequal treatment in the healthcare system across the West, and their treatment within the NHS is not any different, with several reports highlighting the higher instances of discrimination and poorer health outcomes within the NHS. A 2022 survey revealed that almost two-thirds (65%) of black people who responded to a survey stated they experienced prejudice from doctors and other staff in healthcare settings, with this percentage rising in Black young people (those aged 18-34). Mental health care for many Black individuals is also significantly limited, with Black people being 3.5 to 4 times more likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act compared to their white counterparts.
Misdiagnosis is a crucial aspect of this perpetual inequality in mental health care by healthcare systems towards the Black community. To define misdiagnosis further, it is the incorrect identification of a health condition by a healthcare professional towards a patient, which often leads to inappropriate care and ultimate harm for the patient. Misdiagnosis is complex, and there are different types of misdiagnosis: being wrongly diagnosed for a condition, having a missed diagnosis, or even having a delayed diagnosis. Unlike other health-related diagnoses, mental health diagnoses rely more significantly on interpretation by the health care practitioner, resulting in increased room for implicit bias.
The impact of this implicit bias results in Black patients, and others, being more likely to be diagnosed with more ‘severe’ mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia, under the NHS, compared to the white British population, even when they present with more clearly defined symptoms of other mental health conditions, such as bipolar disorder or depression. Furthermore, conditions such as anxiety and depression in Black populations are often missed or minimised, with major mental health symptoms being reframed as complex behavioural or personality-based problems. This idea is conditioned young with Black children being more easily labelled as having “conduct disorders” or “anger issues”. In addition to this, there are some marked differences in the expression of emotional distress between black individuals and their white counterparts, with the physical manifestation of this distress in Black individuals, particularly Black women being self-interpreted as physical pain and other somatic symptoms rather than emotional symptoms, impacting how black individuals are therefore diagnosed with mental health conditions.
Now, why does this matter? The repeated misdiagnosis of mental health conditions in black people can lead to a whole host of responses, including inappropriate treatment, delayed treatment resulting in worsening symptoms, and an increased likelihood of black individuals only reaching out when crisis-level intervention is required.
University is often the first time students begin accessing healthcare independently, without the same support systems they have at home. It is also worth recognising that the University of Southampton’s student population is incredibly diverse, with many students from a variety of cultural backgrounds; therefore, some students may resonate strongly with this theme of misdiagnosis and being misunderstood by healthcare services. If you are a student who feels misunderstood by either the University of Southampton’s wellbeing support or key mental health services within the NHS, the Awarding Gap Project’s Wellbeing Workstream is here to support you with your wellbeing needs. We will help advocate for you and connect you with inclusive support options.
Everyone deserves to be understood when they ask for help. Addressing misdiagnosis helps students feel seen and supported. The Awarding Gap Project and University of Southampton services encourage all students to reach out, knowing they will be met with understanding and care.
About Hanan Roble
Hanan is a Wellbeing Panel Member for the Awarding Gap Project, where she collaborates on wellbeing initiatives to ensure all students feel supported and represented. She has a strong interest in neuroscience and in how stress affects the brain, and is passionate about making wellbeing support more accessible.
