An exploratory study examining attitudes toward mental health and mental health services among young south Asians in the United Kingdom

Research findings to date highlight the underutilization of mental health services by minority ethnic families. However, research in this area has been adult focused and concentrated on the views of parents. This study therefore seeks to redress that imbalance within the research arena by making children the focus of consultation on mental health issues. The article presents results from an exploratory study, commissioned by the Association for Professionals in Services for Adolescents, to explore the views of young South Asians in Luton and Bedford toward mental health and mental health services. Overall, only one in five of the respondents was aware of clinics available to support children, adolescents, or families who are experiencing emotional or behavioral difficulties. The role of schools emerged to be potentially very influential in the study. Schools were seen as a focal point from which young people could gain information regarding support services, and were also perceived as a good venue from which to offer clinics. In this study, 65% of the young respondents who stated they would not access a support clinic to assist them with their difficulties were of South Asian origin. Similarly, 66% of the respondents who stated that their friends or family were unlikely to use the clinic for support were of South Asian origin. Notably, however, the level of awareness of services was the same across all ethnic groups. Therefore, the difference in the proposed use of services was not lack of awareness, but instead that the South Asian respondents felt more strongly about not wanting to share their problems with “strangers.”