Mental Health Factors in Offending: BAME Carers' Perspectives
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) carers’ understanding of factors that led their family member to commit an offence leading to secure care hospitalisation.
IRAS ID
341382
Contact name
Amandeep Brainch
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Birmingham
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 9 months, 6 days
Research summary
Studies show there are unique issues faced by families of patients in secure mental health facilities (Ferriter & Huband, 2003). These families often struggle to reconcile their loved one's illness with the criminal offence (Møllerhøj, 2022). Sharing explanations, like attributing the act to mental illness, can be helpful for some families.
While carers play a crucial role in patient rehabilitation, research on their perspectives, particularly those from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds, is limited. Existing studies primarily focus on Western populations. This lack of understanding about BAME carers' perspectives on their family member's offence creates a significant knowledge gap.
This research aims to bridge this gap by addressing the question: BAME (Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic) carers’ understanding of factors that led their family member to commit an offence leading to secure care hospitalisation. The study will use a semi-structured interview incorporating mainly open-ended questions designed to explore the BAME carer’s understanding of (1) why their family member committed their index offence and their understanding of this within the context of poor mental health, (2) if any treatment was sought for the person and if this was helpful? (3) carers’ understanding of why their family member is in a secure forensic hospital, and (4) what support carers feel they need from professionals when their family member is discharged from hospital. The data will be transcribed and analysed to generate themes representing the perspectives of BAME carers.
REC name
West Midlands - Solihull Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/WM/0237
Date of REC Opinion
15 Jan 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion