Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a condition that 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 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.
What is OCD?
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a mental health condition that works in a repetitive cycle. It often begins with an intrusive thought, image, or urge—something unwanted and distressing. These thoughts trigger intense emotions, such as anxiety, guilt, or shame. To try to reduce this distress, a person with OCD carries out repetitive physical behaviours or mental acts, known as compulsions.
At first, compulsions might provide short-term relief. However, over time, they reinforce the intrusive thoughts, making them more frequent and distressing. This creates a cycle of obsession and compulsion that can take over daily life.
OCD affects everyone differently, but here are some examples of how it might show up:
- Worries about contamination, such as germs or cleanliness.
- Fear of harming others or causing something bad to happen.
- Repeated doubts about relationships or personal identity.
- Worries related to religious beliefs or moral principles (often referred to as scrupulosity). These can involve intense anxiety about sinning, not meeting religious or cultural expectations, or failing to adhere to moral standards.
- Mental or physical rituals, like counting or checking, to “neutralise” distressing thoughts.
- Avoiding situations, places or people that might trigger difficult intrusive thoughts.
You can learn more about OCD cycle and the ways OCD can present in our OCD Factsheet.
OCD is difficult to live with, but it is treatable. Evidence-based approaches like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) can help break the cycle and offer hope for recovery.
Navigating Barriers to Support
OCD affects around 1–2% of the population and can impact anyone, regardless of background. Yet, 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. For example, scrupulosity—a subtype of OCD involving religious or moral obsessions—can intersect with deeply held cultural or religious beliefs, making it even harder to recognise or talk about symptoms.
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. 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 below share how others have navigated these difficulties and found the help they needed.
Finding the Right Support
Reaching out for help with OCD can feel like a big step, especially if you’re unsure where to start or have faced barriers in the past. There are clinically recommended treatments that are proven to help, and OCD Action offers a range of services to give you the information and support you need to access them. Our services can also help with feelings of isolation, providing opportunities to meet and connect with others who understand.
Treatment for OCD
Effective treatment is key to managing OCD. It helps break the cycle of intrusive thoughts and compulsions, giving you the tools to challenge your OCD. Treatment options include:
CBT with ERP
The only proven and recommended therapy for OCD and related conditions is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy that includes Exposure and Response Prevention. This is often referred to as ‘CBT with ERP.’ It is considered the gold standard of OCD treatment.
There are several ways to access CBT with ERP on the NHS, but the most common route is to speak to your GP and ask for a referral. In some areas, you may be able to self-refer to a primary care service (in England this is known as NHS Talking Therapies, previously IAPT). If you are based in England, you can find your local primary care service here. Learn more about CBT with ERP in our Therapy Factsheet.
Medication
Many people find medication to be a very helpful part of OCD recovery. It can be taken on its own or used alongside CBT with ERP. Different types of medication have been researched in relation to treating OCD and related conditions, and a few have been found to reliably reduce symptoms for most people who try them.
The clinically recommended medication for OCD is SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors). These are commonly referred to as antidepressants, but when used to treat OCD, they are called anti-obsessional medication. A GP or psychiatrist can prescribe medication for OCD.
If you have questions or concerns about medication—whether it’s right for you, what to expect, or how it works—our Helpline is here for you. You can also read more about medication in our Medication Factsheet.
Join a Peer Support Group
Connecting with others who share similar experiences can help break feelings of isolation, especially if you’ve struggled to feel understood in the past. OCD Action runs over 50 free, online support groups that cater to a variety of needs and experiences. These include groups for specific ‘themes’ or ‘subtypes’ of OCD, as well as spaces for parents and loved ones.
We also offer a support group specifically for people of colour. This group provides a safe and welcoming space to share experiences and explore the unique challenges you may have faced.
Our support groups are peer-led, creating a supportive environment where you can talk openly, listen to others, and feel less alone.
You can browse our full list of groups and join one that feels right for you here: OCD Action Support Groups.
Attend a Navigating Services Group
Navigating mental health services can often feel confusing and overwhelming, but our monthly Navigating Services Groups can help. If you’re an OCD Action support group member, you’ll have access to these sessions for additional support.
Facilitated by trained volunteers with in-depth knowledge of treatment pathways, these sessions provide practical tips and information to help you navigate services and advocate for the support you need.
Navigating Services Groups are different from our peer-led support groups. The sessions focus on sharing strategies for overcoming barriers, accessing treatment, and understanding your rights within the healthcare system. They’re designed to equip you with the tools to take the next steps in recovering from OCD.
If you’d like to join, just let your support group facilitator know or contact us for more information.
Contact the OCD Action Helpline
Sometimes you just need someone to talk to. Our confidential Helpline is here to support you, whether you’re living with OCD yourself or reaching out about someone you care about.
Our trained volunteers can:
- Talk with you about the emotional impact of OCD and how it’s affecting your life.
- Answer your questions about OCD, its treatments (like CBT with ERP or medication), and what to expect.
- Help you understand how to access treatment and navigate available options.
- Support you in understanding your rights in various settings, such as healthcare, education and the workplace.
- Share information about OCD Action’s other services and resources.
This is a private, one-to-one space where you can ask anything and feel supported.
You can fill out the form below for an email response or call us directly at 0300 636 5478.
Tell us what you think
We’d love to hear your feedback on this page. Was the information helpful? Is there anything you’d like to see included or improved?
Your input helps us ensure that these resources are as useful and supportive as possible. Please share your thoughts by emailing us. Thank you.