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South Asian women in Britain: their mental health needs and views of services

Journal of Public Mental Health

ISSN: 1746-5729

Article publication date: 1 March 2004

392

Abstract

This paper describes a survey carried out by a South Asian women's voluntary organisation to identify the physical and mental health needs of its users. The results confirm research findings that suggest a high proportion of South Asian women suffer from psychological and somatic symptoms that are commonly associated with anxiety and depression. A considerable number had experienced racial discrimination and several had suffered sexual discrimination. Problems reported by participants included eating disorders, marital difficulties and domestic violence. The majority did not know where to seek help for mental health problems. Respondents wanted confidential talking and complementary therapies to be provided in services run by South Asian staff, and for health education and health promotion to be provided in their own ethnic language. The paper ends with a consideration of the implications of these findings for the delivery of mainstream mental health services, from health promotion through primary care to specialist services.

Citation

Kumari, N. (2004), "South Asian women in Britain: their mental health needs and views of services", Journal of Public Mental Health, Vol. 3 No. 1, pp. 30-38. https://doi.org/10.1108/17465729200400005

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2004, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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