Little progress has been made in improving mental health services for black and minority ethnic (BME) older people over the last eight years, a report claims.

The report, by the Royal College of Psychiatrists, proposes new projects to evaluate the effectiveness of professional interpretation services and new ways of providing information to BME older people.

It also calls for funding to develop diagnostic tools for dementia and depression in languages spoken by BME older people that can be administered by an English-speaking mental health practitioner with the aid of a professional interpreter.

Progress in developing and improving services “has been slow”, the report says, since the college’s original report in 2001.

Report author Professor Ajit Shah said: “With a growing BME elderly population, the time is now right to build on previous work to further develop culturally appropriate and sensitive mental health services for older people from BME groups.”

Over the last decade, the mental health of BME groups has become a more significant issue. In 2001, estimates put the proportion of BME older people over the age of 65 at 8.2% of the total population in England and Wales - up from just 3% in 1991.

Research suggests dementia and depression are as common, or more common, in older people from BME groups in the UK than among older white British people. BME older people, however, continue to have poor access to mental health services.

Dr Dave Anderson, chair of the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ faculty of old age psychiatry, added: “With an ageing population the numbers of people with mental health problems is rising rapidly. It is vital to improve access to specialist older people’s mental health services equipped to meet the needs of this neglected group of older people. 

“By 2030 there will be twice as many people over age 65 as there will be teenagers. The time has come to actually deliver equality.”

The report also calls on the college to set up a new working group to address this neglected area.