Contextual determinants and participant perspectives on the common mental disorders and access to psychological treatments in UK ethnic minorities

Contextual determinants and participant perspectives on the common mental disorders and access to psychological treatments in UK ethnic minorities: Mixed methods study utilising data from nationally representative surveys

There are concerns that ethnic minority groups within the UK experience inequalities in the prevalence of the common mental disorders (CMD) and in access to treatments. This may be due to stigma and differences in health-seeking, differing cultural/explanatory models of distress, the usage of informal social networks and perceptions of offered treatments as less acceptable. There is also variation according to where people live, for example the prevalence of CMD is lower in areas of higher own ethnic density, however reasons for this are unclear. The last nationally representative UK surveys of ethnic minority mental health were conducted 17 years ago.
This mixed methods study will utilise data from the nationally representative UK Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Surveys (APMS), to assess prevalence and treatment inequalities for CMD amongst ethnic minority groups in England. A nested qualitative study will be conducted to assess reasons for differences (explanatory models, reported barriers to accessing treatments, pathways into care, experiences of discrimination, perceptions of own mental health and wellbeing), and how these vary by neighbourhood/ ethnic density, from the perspectives of participants.
This proposal will address gaps in knowledge and inform policy through comprehensive analyses of large nationally representative surveys, informed by in-depth qualitative interviews.