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A Qualitative Study of Barriers to Mental Health Services Utilisation Among Migrants From Mainland China in South-East Sydney

Author

Listed:
  • Ilse Blignault

    (School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, i.blignault@unsw.edu.au)

  • Vince Ponzio

    (Integrated Services Project, Office of Senior Practitioner,Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care, Parramatta, Australia)

  • Ye Rong

    (Brain & Mind Research Institute, University of Sydney, Australia)

  • Maurice Eisenbruch

    (School of Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, Monash University, Australia)

Abstract

Background: Chinese-language speakers comprise the largest non-English speaking population in Australia but they have among the lowest rates of mental health services utilisation. Material: A bilingual (Mandarin/English) researcher conducted in-depth interviews with China-born mental health patients and members of the general community, and mental health service providers. Discussion: Participants identified several factors that limit access to mental healthcare as well as the quality of care received: mental health literacy, communication difficulties, stigma, confidentiality concerns, service constraints and discrimination. Cross-cultural communication was not just a matter of hearing individual words but also appreciating idioms and cultural and social references. Conclusion: Findings have implications for the prevention and treatment of mental disorders among migrants from China, and caution against assuming heterogeneity within ethnic groups. Mental health services must become more culturally competent in their attempts to engage the target group and to deliver both acute and continuing care.

Suggested Citation

  • Ilse Blignault & Vince Ponzio & Ye Rong & Maurice Eisenbruch, 2008. "A Qualitative Study of Barriers to Mental Health Services Utilisation Among Migrants From Mainland China in South-East Sydney," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 54(2), pages 180-190, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:54:y:2008:i:2:p:180-190
    DOI: 10.1177/0020764007085872
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kam-Shing Yip, 2005. "An Historical Review of the Mental Health Services in the People’s Republic of China," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 51(2), pages 106-118, June.
    2. Levkoff, Sue E. & Macarthur, Ian W. & Bucknall, Julia, 1995. "Elderly mental health in the developing world," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 41(7), pages 983-1003, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Rony Kayrouz & Blake F Dear & Luke Johnston & Liliane Keyrouz & Edmond Nehme & Roy Laube & Nickolai Titov, 2015. "Intergenerational and cross-cultural differences in emotional wellbeing, mental health service utilisation, treatment-seeking preferences and acceptability of psychological treatments for Arab Austral," International Journal of Social Psychiatry, , vol. 61(5), pages 484-491, August.
    2. Ilse Blignault & Hend Saab & Hanan Youssef & Heba Baddah & Klara Giourgas & Lisa Woodland, 2023. "“It Is Definitely a Good Program for Everyone from Every Community”: A Qualitative Study of Community Partner Perspectives on the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Mindfulness Program," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(16), pages 1-16, August.
    3. Snowden, Lonnie R. & Masland, Mary C. & Peng, Carol J. & Wei-Mien Lou, Christine & Wallace, Neal T., 2011. "Limited English proficient Asian Americans: Threshold language policy and access to mental health treatment," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 72(2), pages 230-237, January.
    4. Ajito Fernandes & Titi Susilowati Prabawa & Wilson M. A. Therik, 2022. "The Livelihood of Chinese Migrants in Timor-Leste," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-14, April.
    5. Klimentina Krstanoska-Blazeska & Andre Renzaho & Ilse Blignault & Bingqin Li & Nicola Reavley & Shameran Slewa-Younan, 2023. "A Qualitative Exploration of Sources of Help for Mental Illness in Arabic-, Mandarin-, and Swahili-Speaking Communities in Sydney, Australia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(10), pages 1-16, May.
    6. Zuhair ABBAS & Roman ZAMECNIK & Ismat HAIDER & Saima WASIM & Afshan KHAN & Ather AKHLAQ & Kanwal HUSSAIN, 2021. "Barriers To Accessing Mental Health Services: A Perspective From Working And Non-Working Class," Proceedings of the INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE, Faculty of Management, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 15(1), pages 647-659, November.

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