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Attitudes Towards Mental Health in an Urban Pakistani Community in the United Kingdom

Author

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  • Rashda Tabassum

    (Community Health, Sheffield, UK)

  • Ann Macaskill

    (School of Health and Community Studies, Sheffield Hallam University, Collegiate Campus, Sheffield S10 2BP, UK)

  • Iftikhar Ahmad

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the attitudes of Pakistani families living in an urban area of the United Kingdom, towards mental health issues, to identify the emic models used and compare them with the etic model, predominant in Western medicine. This would allow the exploration of some of the inconsistencies in the research literature relating to the incidence of mental illness in this cultural group. The second aim was to explore the needs of this community, particularly women, in relation to mental health services. Due to problems gaining access to females on their own, interviews were held with family groups. Findings suggested that there were differences in the models of mental illness being employed with greater somatisation of symptoms in the Pakistani group and an emphasis on aggressive behaviour as a significant symptom. Treatment expectations also varied with some emphasis on traditional Pakistani treatments such as Faith healers and Hakims as well as General Practitioners and hospital treatments. Language difficulties, religious and cultural practices were also identified as barriers to female treatment in particular. Recommendations were made for improved training for interpreters and more emphasis on cultural factors and emic models of mental illness as part of medical training.

Suggested Citation

  • Rashda Tabassum & Ann Macaskill & Iftikhar Ahmad, 2000. "Attitudes Towards Mental Health in an Urban Pakistani Community in the United Kingdom," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 46(3), pages 170-181, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:46:y:2000:i:3:p:170-181
    DOI: 10.1177/002076400004600303
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. A. Furnham & R. Malik, 1994. "Cross-Cultural Beliefs About "Depression"," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 40(2), pages 106-123, June.
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    1. Li-Yu Song & Ly-Yun Chang & Chaiw-Yi Shih & Chih-Yuan Lin & Ming-Jeng Yang, 2005. "Community Attitudes Towards the Mentally Ill: The Results of a National Survey of the Taiwanese Population," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 51(2), pages 162-176, June.
    2. Lacey, Lindsey & Mishra, Nirajana & Mukherjee, Priya & Prakash, Nikhilesh & Prakash, Nishith & Quinn, Diane & Sabarwal, Shwetlena & Saraswat, Deepak, 2024. "Can Destigmatizing Mental Health Increase Willingness to Seek Help? Experimental Evidence from Nepal," IZA Discussion Papers 17166, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Christoph Lauber & Carlos Nordt & Luis Falcato & Wulf Rössler, 2002. "Determinants of Attitude to Volunteering in Psychiatry: Results of a Public Opinion Survey in Switzerland," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 48(3), pages 209-219, September.
    4. Lindsey Lacey & Nirajana Mishra & Priya Mukherjee & Nikhilesh Prakash & Nishith Prakash & Diane Quinn & Shwetlena Sabarwal & Deepak Saraswat, 2024. "Can Destigmatizing Mental Health Increase Willingness to Seek Help? Experimental Evidence from Nepal," CESifo Working Paper Series 11241, CESifo.
    5. Klimentina Krstanoska-Blazeska & Russell Thomson & Shameran Slewa-Younan, 2021. "Mental Illness Stigma and Associated Factors among Arabic-Speaking Religious and Community Leaders," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-13, July.

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