Ethnic minority groups, learning disability and mental health

The presence of a learning disability in an individual from an ethnic minority group raises several issues that, if not recognized and addressed, can be detrimental to the mental health of the affected individual. Affected individuals have been said to face a double disadvantage, arising from having a learning disability and being from an ethnic minority group. This disadvantage has been largely neglected both in terms of research and service provision. In order to cater effectively for people with learning disabilities from ethnic minority groups, several obstacles have to be recognized and addressed, specifically and deliberately. More research is required in this area.