Psychiatry · Public Health · 2 h ago
Study identifies barriers to equitable bereavement support for ethnically diverse communities
A national qualitative study used interviews, focus groups and co-design workshops to examine access to bereavement support among people from 13 ethnically diverse backgrounds. Participants described service-level and system-wide barriers and proposed changes including community partnerships, language-accessible support and investment in grassroots services.
- Barriers occur across services and the wider support system.
- Racism and intersectionality shape access and engagement.
- Participants called for community-led, culturally safe provision.
Researchers conducted a multi-phase national qualitative study using experience-based co-design principles. They interviewed 53 bereaved people and held focus groups with 121 people from 13 ethnically diverse backgrounds; the report also describes interviews with 23 bereavement support providers across 12 services. Four online co-design workshops involved 53 bereaved people and stakeholders, followed by a hybrid workshop with 29 stakeholders to refine recommendations. Analysis drew on a healthcare access framework.
Barriers were reported across the access pathway, with many arising within support organisations and the wider system. Racism and intersectionality affected whether people could identify, trust, reach and engage with support. Participants cited poor signposting and referral, long waits, limited staff diversity, language barriers, weak organisational commitment to equity, precarious funding and white-centred, individualised models of grief support. They called for anti-racist practice, sustained community partnerships, support in trusted settings and community languages, flexible provision, and greater investment in grassroots services led by ethnically diverse communities. The findings offer system-level recommendations, but the qualitative design does not establish the effectiveness of specific interventions; the abstract provides no outcome evaluation.
In practice
For bereavement support services working with ethnically diverse communities, the findings point to practical access issues to address, including clear signposting and referral, language-accessible support, trusted community settings, flexible models and sustained partnership with community-led organisations. Participants also identified anti-racist practice and organisational accountability as important. These recommendations arise from qualitative interviews and co-design, not an evaluation showing that particular changes improve outcomes or access; they support service planning but do not establish the effectiveness of specific interventions.
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BMC Medicine: How to tackle inequities in bereavement support for ethnically diverse communities: a national qualitative study using experience-based co-design ↗This is an automated AI-condensed summary that has not yet been reviewed by an editor. Always consult the full item at the original source.