A new Migraine Trust survey has found that people from ethnic minority backgrounds in the UK are more likely to receive poorer migraine care, face discrimination, and fear not being taken seriously.
In a representative survey of 2,200 adults, 23% of mixed-ethnicity respondents, 19% of Asian respondents, and 16% of Black respondents said their ethnicity negatively affected their care, compared with just 7% of white respondents. Black people were also more likely to fear discrimination or career impact due to migraines (37% compared with 26% of white respondents).
Some respondents reported concerns about not being believed: 19% of Asian and 14% of Black participants shared this worry, compared with 8% of white participants. One respondent, Abigail Kabirou, said stereotypes about Black women tolerating more pain led to inadequate treatment.
Migraine Trust CEO Rob Music called the inequities “unacceptable,” highlighting how gender, ethnicity and social grade all shape how people are treated. The charity says many people avoid seeking help because of stigma or fear of dismissal.
The survey also found widespread misdiagnosis and dismissal across all groups, with women often told migraines were “just hormonal” and younger people accused of exaggeration.
Health organisations say urgent action is needed from healthcare leaders, employers and policymakers to close these gaps. The NHS stressed that everyone deserves high-quality care and encouraged patients to seek support through their GP.
