Assessment of psychiatric problems in ethnic minorities

Abstract

Health care delivery and delivery of psychiatric services must be seen in the context of the social, political and economic climate. Management of patients from black and ethnic minorities is no different from that in majority communities, except that special factors such as impact of migration, racism and language problems must be taken into account. Use of metaphors should not be seen as stigmatizing, but as helpful and in the context of cultural norms. Explanatory models of illness that include notions of aetiology, symptoms, outcome and prognosis are helpful in identifying the needs of patients from black and ethnic minorities. These explanatory models have an important role in encouraging service use and pathways into care. Cultural identity, including language, religion, attitudes, leisure, food choices and aspirations, influence distress, and the clinician will benefit from exploring this in a systematic manner.