Lack of information on drug side-effects

Only one
in four people from ethnic minorities who are taking medication for
psychiatric problems said they were given enough information about
possible side-effects, according to mental health charity Mind.

Nearly
two-thirds of all people who filled in Mind’s “yellow card”
questionnaire about their treatment said they had not been given
enough information about side- effects, or were not offered a
choice of treatment. Nearly two-thirds of respondents said they had
decided to stop medication, mainly because of unacceptable
side-effects.

The
charity is calling for doctors to be more open about drug
side-effects, and for better access to information, advocacy and
alternative treatments for people from ethnic minorities.

Mind
analysed 502 responses from people with mental health problems who
had suffered adverse side effects of psychiatric drugs prescribed
by their doctor.

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