Resources for people of colour living with OCD
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) affects people from all backgrounds, but accessing support can feel and be harder for people of colour due to cultural, systemic, and societal factors
If this resonates with you, you’re not alone. This page on our website brings together information, personal stories, and practical steps to help you manage OCD and take the next steps towards accessing support.
This resource has been co-developed with OCD Action’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Panel and features short films from panel members sharing their experiences as people of colour living with OCD.
Navigating Barriers to Support
For people of colour, seeking support often comes with added challenges that go beyond the condition itself.
Cultural stigma around mental illness can make it difficult to speak openly or seek help, especially in communities where mental health problems are often misunderstood or seen as a source of shame.
At the same time, systemic issues within mental health services create additional barriers. People from global majority backgrounds are less likely to access mental health care, even though rates of mental health conditions may be the same or higher compared to other groups.
Further Structural inequalities
Structural inequalities, such as a lack of diversity among professionals or limited understanding of cultural contexts, can leave people feeling unseen or unsupported.
These factors create a more complex path to accessing effective care, but hearing from others who have faced similar barriers can help you feel less alone and more empowered to seek support. The stories on the page below share how others have navigated these difficulties and found the help they needed.
For further details, visit our Living with OCD: Support for People of Colour website page: https://ocdaction.org.uk/support-for-people-of-colour/
