The experiences of racially marginalised individuals in managing mental health distress and racial adversity in the UK is a nuanced and complex topic area, but continually remains an important focus for further research.

Part one of this research portfolio presents a conceptual review redefining the term ‘hard to reach’, often used in services to categorise individuals who have lower rates of accessing professional mental health support. This includes those from racially marginalised backgrounds. The paper focuses on the wider systemic factors which may influence the experiences of racially marginalised individuals in accessing support, seeking to shift the blame away from an individualistic narrative, and providing insight into alternative and more culturally appropriate means of intervention for these individuals.

Part two of this portfolio is an empirical study exploring the experiences of second-generation immigrants from racially marginalised backgrounds. This paper draws upon the systemic psychotherapy model of family scripts to understand how this group demonstrates narrative resources that inform their experiences of managing race-based adversity, based on the experiences of their first-generation parents. This paper provides a new application of the systemic model, whilst adding to limited research within the topic area. Clinical implications are discussed in the context of adaptations for therapeutic interventions.