The Representation of Gender and Ethnicity in Mental Health Records.

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  The full title of the research is: Intersectionality and Discourse Analysis: The Representation of Gender and Ethnicity in Mental Health Records and Materials at First Episode Psychosis(FEP)for Women in England.

• IRAS ID

  139700

• Contact name

  jacinta Hofstetter

• Contact email

  N/A

• Sponsor organisation

  Royal Holloway, University of London

• Research summary

  Title:
  Intersectionality and Discourse Analysis: The Representation of Gender and Ethnicity in Mental Health Records and Materials at first episode psychosis (FEP) for Women.
  Background:
  The debate about the elevated rates of FEP amongst certain groups receiving mental health care in England remains controversial, due to inconsistencies in research and findings. Much of the evidence has focused on certain groups, with research findings based mainly upon biomedical research approaches, to the exclusion and under-representation of others and too much focus on differences as opposed to commonalities. Moreover research investigations that examine the effects of gender and ethnicity simultaneously, in relation to FEP for women are rare, with the under-exploration of the role inequality plays by gender and ethnicity in relation to FEP outcome.
  Rationale:
  There is a lack of consistent knowledge regarding the role played by inequality and who is included in ethnicity and gender in research, in relation to FEP. These gaps point to the need for a more coherent theoretical framework for studying the intersection of gender and ethnicity at FEP.Implications for mental health services are discussed.
  Research Question:
  How is Gender and Ethnicity represented in mental health records for all women?
  Who is included within these categories?
  Does Gender and Ethnicity play any role in outcomes for women?
  Where are there similarities or commonalities across differences?
  What implications are there for mental health services?
  Benefits of Research:
  It is hoped the research will assist in better enhancing current knowledge on the representation of Gender and Ethnicity in mental health records at FEP for all women through the utilisation of intersectionality approach and Discourses Analytic framework.
  Design:
  A Qualitative Research Design based upon Intersectionality and Discourse Analytic Framework are utilised to critically explore text meanings.
  Participants:
  Participants in this research will not be individual patients. The participants will be mainstream mental health organisations, who are providing care to those with mental health needs. Already existing mental health documentations, records and materials pertaining to women service users at FEP will be discursively analysed. Documentations will be those covering the time period of two years, between January 2011 to January 2012. Sampling of participant organisations will be that chosen purposively and based in London due to its diversity, location and availability of appropriate data.
  Funder:
  This research is self funded.

• REC name

  West Midlands - Solihull Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  14/WM/0171

• Date of REC Opinion

  30 May 2014

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion