The association of life events with the onset of various psychiatric disorders is well known. The body of evidence has highlighted the impact of negative or positive life events on the genesis of common mental disorders, especially depression. These findings have been replicated across different cultures, although the effect of different life events varies between cultures. In addition, the role of chronic difficulties (see p. 43) and resulting ongoing chronic stress have been shown to contribute to vulnerability to certain mental illnesses. However, data on the impact of life events, especially those perceived as racial, on members of minority ethnic groups are rather sparse. The questions that need to be addressed concern the perception of life events as racial, the role of pervasive and perceived institutional and individual racism, and chronic difficulties. In this review, we aim to draw the clinician's attention to some of these key factors, which may precipitate or perpetuate ongoing psychiatric problems.

Race, ethnicity and racism

Race and ethnicity

Until the middle of the 20th century race was used as a Darwinian tool to emphasise that Black people were inferior and savage compared with White people. This was accepted as a biological fact by the scientific community, thereby giving it a scientific legitimacy. Racism takes several forms and occurs both at individual and institutional levels.