Definitions of racisms and the mechanisms by which they contribute to poor mental health. Credit: Sociology of Health & Illness (2025). DOI: 10.1111/1467-9566.70023

A new report finds a dose-response relationship between racial discrimination and poor mental health, as well as the indirect relationship between racial discrimination and mental health, through health, economic, and social inequalities.

"Racial discrimination has a direct impact on mental health, with the likelihood of poor mental health increasing with increasing exposure to racial discrimination, which is concerning given that 70% of ethnic minority people have experienced racism at least once during their life. Racial discrimination also contributes to worse health, financial, and social outcomes, which themselves also have a negative impact on mental health, " says Dr. Patsy Irizar, lead author and senior lecturer at Liverpool John Moores University.

The authors also examine the impact of experiencing racism over many years. Recent experiences of racial discrimination (within the past five years only) had a stronger effect on mental health compared to experiences of racial discrimination that happened more than five years ago. Chronic experiences of racial discrimination over someone's life (both past and recent experiences) had the strongest effect on mental health.

Dr. Dharmi Kapadia, senior lecturer in sociology at the University of Manchester, says, "Racially minoritized people in Britain continue to experience worryingly high levels of racial discrimination, with detrimental effects to their mental health.

"Further, this study shows the importance of collecting experiences of racial discrimination over the life course, rather than at just one point in time, as the more racism a person experiences, the worse the effect on their mental health. We now have overwhelming evidence both in Britain and globally of the insidious effects of racism, showing that direct action to tackle racism is urgently needed."

Drawing on data from EVENS, the largest and most comprehensive survey to document the lives of ethnic and religious minorities in Britain during the pandemic, the report also shows how experiences of racial discrimination were associated with testing positive for COVID-19, financial concerns, feelings of loneliness, and a reduced sense of belonging. Racial discrimination also indirectly contributed to poor mental health, through these experiences.

The report summarizes the article "Associations Between Experiences of Racial Discrimination Across the Life Course and Mental Health: Exploring Direct and Indirect Pathways" published in Sociology of Health & Illness.

More information: The impact of racial discrimination on mental health. pure.manchester.ac.uk/ws/porta … h_-_Irizar_et_al.pdf Patricia Irizar et al, Associations Between Experiences of Racial Discrimination Across the Life Course and Mental Health: Exploring Direct and Indirect Pathways, Sociology of Health & Illness (2025). DOI: 10.1111/1467-9566.70023  Journal information: Sociology of Health & Illness

Patricia Irizar et al, Associations Between Experiences of Racial Discrimination Across the Life Course and Mental Health: Exploring Direct and Indirect Pathways, Sociology of Health & Illness (2025). DOI: 10.1111/1467-9566.70023