We were commissioned by the NHS Race and Health Observatory to carry out a review of ethnic inequalities in access and outcomes to NHS Talking Therapies, for anxiety and depression (NHS TTAD) formerly known as Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT).
Based on that review, we developed recommendations for how NHS Talking Therapies can reduce inequalities for people from minoritised ethnic communities. The broad aims were to identify:
where and why inequalities exist, in IAPT referrals and outcomes
how people from black and minoritised ethnic communities experience IAPT pathways, and how experiences vary by ethnicity
how the NHS might better embed the IAPT Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Service User Positive Practice Guide.
The resulting recommendations are based on an extensive analysis of patient data, findings from focus groups involving people with lived experience and IAPT therapists, surveys with clinical leads and commissioners, and a review of the literature.