Dissociation in black people of African and African Caribbean descent in the UK

Information Sheet

Dear Participant,

My name is Vernon De Maynard, and I have been working in primary mental health care in London UK for some years now. Mental health has been defined as ‘a state of well-being whereby individuals recognize their abilities, are able to cope with the normal stresses of life, work productively and fruitfully, and make a contribution to their communities’ (WHO, 2003, p. 7). Unfortunately, black people of African and African Caribbean descent are 2-5 times likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia or other psychotic illness (Morgan, et al., 2005). Therefore, mental ill-health within the black community in the UK has become a serious issue. There has been some speculation as to racism being a cause of mental ill-health within the black community (McKenzie, 2006), but little evidence exists to establish a causal relationship between the experience of racism and the deterioration in mental health. My research interests are in the social psychology of race, and in particular, the effect the processing of race-related information might have on mental health.

Whilst it is accepted that, black people may use a number of different psychological defence mechanisms to deal with the effects of racism, I have chosen to focus my research on the psychological defence mechanism – dissociation. To explore these issues, I have designed a study to look at the normal process of dissociation in those who are often confronted with ‘racism’. Race-related incidents may be defined as: those situations or conditions in which an individual may feel that others are treating him or her unfairly because of his race or ethnicity. Race-based rejection sensitivity may be defined as: is a psychological state or condition or process in which an individual becomes sensitised and anxious about race related thoughts, emotions, sensations, or memories or actions of others. Dissociation may be defined as: is a psychological state or condition in which certain thoughts, emotions, sensations, or memories are separated from the rest of the psyche. Suppression may be defined as: is a psychological state or condition in which an individual deliberately tries to prevent certain thoughts, emotions, sensations, or memories from coming in consciousness (Wegner, 1989). For this reason, I will be asking the question, do black people in general dissociate, or suppress race-related thoughts, feeling, memories in race-related comments, and if so, how might this phenomenon be best measured?

What is the purpose of the study?

The study is an attempt to determine whether there is any relation between the racialised black body image, and dissociative experiences in black people of African and African Caribbean descent in the UK

Why am I interested in black people?

I am interested in black people because they continue to be over represented within the mental health system, and we know very little about how they may process information about racism they might experience within the context of their everyday lives.

What do I have to do?

All you have to do is answer ALL the items on the questionnaire, in your own time, to the best of your ability, and return it to the research investigator. If you do not want to respond to any of the items, please leave it blank. There is no time limit, but please do not think about the questions for too long.

What will happen to the information?

The research investigator will collect anonymously, and hold them within 'VADM Centre for Ethnic Minority Mental Health' databases until the end of the study. The study will end when I have a representative sample of respondents. The researcher will have your Internet Protocol address (IP address) which will help identify which respondents are UK based and which are not. None of the information with shared with a third party without your expressed permission, and you can be assured confidentiality will be maintained throughout.

What will happen to the results?

A research paper/article will be produced for publication, and disseminated through peer-reviewed journals. At the end of the study, you will be able to request a summary of the findings from the researcher. You will not be identifiable in the paper or the summary.

Do I have to take part?

Participation is voluntary. If, you at all unhappy with any part of the study, you can leave it blank, or with draw from the study at any time. You can also contact the researcher via telephone: 02086744500, or via email: vernon@vadm.co.uk

Who has reviewed the study? Who is Organising and funding the Study?

The study was ethically reviewed, organised, and funded by VADM Centre for Ethnic Minority Mental Health (UK), and Charing Cross Research Ethics Committee (Ref: 08/H0711/133). VADM Centre for Ethnic Minority Mental Health is a limited company, Registered in England (Registration No. 6601452), and charitable organisation, Registered with the Charities Commission, (Registration No. 1124782).

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