Quantifying the experiences of Black and Dual Heritage young people in a forensic child and adolescent mental health service

Young people from racialised backgrounds are overrepresented in justice services. This study explored differences in community support offered to young people from racialised groups referred to a forensic child and adolescent mental health service. We compared support offered to 427 young people, according to five ethnic groups. Over 20% of young people referred were Black (compared with 14% of the local population) and 15.8% were Dual White and Black Heritage (compared with 4% of the local population). Odds ratios showed that Black and Dual Heritage groups were more frequently involved with youth offending services (Black: 2.59, Dual Heritage: 2.88), gangs services (Black: 4.31, Dual Heritage: 7.13) and have a national referral mechanism (Black: 3.61, Dual Heritage: 4.01) than their White peers, but were less often in mainstream education compared with their Asian peers (Black: 0.26, Dual Heritage: 0.29). Black (odds ratio 0.35) and Dual Heritage (odds ratio 0.40) young people were less frequently diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disorder than their White peers. Those from Black and Dual Heritage backgrounds were disproportionately disadvantaged.