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South Asians are less like to have their mental health illness identified & more likely to under-utilise mental health care services.
Being susceptible to psychological distress is strongly associated with pressure to acculturate. (1/9) #MedTwitter
Being susceptible to psychological distress is strongly associated with pressure to acculturate. (1/9) #MedTwitter
Acculturative stress is not only specific to those who migrated but transcends down to their children, us, facing different stressors, linked to negative mental health outcomes. (2/9)
Through e.g. intergenerational & family stress, discrimination, anxiety of adopting diff cultural traits into own identity, substance abuse, immigration status, financial limitations & trauma. (3/9)
Beliefs & explanations concerning mental health in South Asians need to be explored – on an individual, family & community level. This includes how mental health issues, treatment & recovery are culturally conceptualised. (4/9)
Barriers: 1. Cultural exclusion as mental health services are structured around western models of mental illness & thus, are less sensitive for South Asians and other ethnic groups. (5/9)
2. Expression of psychiatric illness can manifest differently in South Asians with more biological symptoms which are less likely to be attributed to depression or anxiety. (6/9)
Actions: 1. Developing & adapting Western screening methods to cater for more diverse populations as the sensitivity for South Asians & other ethnic groups is lower. (7/9)
2. Often South Asians experiencing psychiatric symptoms may view these as appropriate reactions to life stress & with the stigma associated with mental health issues, they are less likely reach out. The threshold needs to be lowered for people to consult HCPs for help. (8/9)
3. Along with raising awareness, normalising and integrating education about mental health into communities like physical health conditions can help in de-stigmatising the ‘taboo’ surrounding mental health issues. (9/9)
