Supporting Minority Ethnic Children and Adolescents With Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Difficulties in the United Kingdom

The author addresses the mental health needs of ethnic minority children and young people in the United Kingdom and the services that are provided to support them. The author discusses the complex and distinctive pattern of ethnic minority distribution in the United Kingdom, along with a consideration of what is known about the mental health of these children and adolescents. The scarcity of data on this topic is highlighted. The author gives an account of values and beliefs underpinning policy and practice in relation to mental health issues in the United Kingdom. The author gives particular attention to the role of educational services in relation to pupils' mental health. It is noted that certain ethnic minority groups (especially African Caribbean(1) children) are overrepresented in the population of children with social or emotional difficulties in schools and in the population of children with diagnosable mental disorders, and the author explains some ways in which this problem might be addressed.