The mental health experiences of ethnic minorities in the UK during the Coronavirus pandemic

A qualitative exploration

Bibliographic Data

ID22068329
AuthorsTine Van Bortel (0000-0003-0467-6393, University of Cambridge, corresponding author), Chiara Lombardo (0000-0002-9705-8094, University of Cambridge), Lijia Guo (0000-0003-3470-3487, University of Cambridge), Susan Solomon (0000-0001-7042-7243), Susan L Solomon (0000-0002-2020-7581, Mental Health Foundation), Steven Andrew Martins (0000-0003-3200-5001, De Montfort University), Steven Martin (0000-0002-8489-2012), Kate Hughes (0000-0002-6365-0292, Mental Health Foundation), Lauren Weeks (0000-0003-4736-9633, Mental Health Foundation), David Crepaz‐keay (0000-0003-3845-4721, Mental Health Foundation), David Crepaz-Keay, Shari Mcdaid (0000-0003-1658-5464, Mental Health Foundation), Oliver Chantler (Mental Health Foundation), Lucy Thorpe (Mental Health Foundation), Alec Morton (0000-0003-3803-8517, University of Strathclyde), Gavin Davidson (0000-0001-6003-0170, Queen's University Belfast), Ann John (0000-0002-5657-6995, Swansea University), Antonis A Kousoulis (0000-0002-8763-3358, Mental Health Foundation)
Year2022
Volume10
Pages875198-875198
Publication date2022-10-06
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2296-2565 • E-ISSN: 2296-2565
PublisherFrontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fpubh.2022.875198
PMID36276403
OpenAlexW4302305254
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited58

Background Worldwide, the Coronavirus pandemic has had a major impact on people's health, lives, and livelihoods. However, this impact has not been felt equally across various population groups. People from ethnic minority backgrounds in the UK have been more adversely affected by the pandemic, especially in terms of their physical health. Their mental health, on the other hand, has received less attention. This study aimed to explore the mental health experiences of UK adults from ethnic minorities during the Coronavirus pandemic. This work forms part of our wider long-term UK population study “Mental Health in the Pandemic.” Methods We conducted an exploratory qualitative study with people from ethnic minority communities across the UK. A series of in-depth interviews were conducted with 15 women, 14 men and 1 non-binary person from ethnic minority backgrounds, aged between 18 and 65 years old (mean age = 40). We utilized purposefully selected maximum variation sampling in order to capture as wide a variety of views, perceptions and experiences as possible. Inclusion criteria: adults (18+) from ethnic minorities across the UK; able to provide full consent to participate; able to participate in a video- or phone-call interview. All interviews took place via MS Teams or Zoom. The gathered data were transcribed verbatim and underwent thematic analysis following Braun and Clarke carried out using NVivo 12 software. Results The qualitative data analysis yielded seven overarching themes: (1) pandemic-specific mental health and wellbeing experiences; (2) issues relating to the media; (3) coping mechanisms; (4) worries around and attitudes toward vaccination; (5) suggestions for support in moving forward; (6) best and worst experiences during pandemic and lockdowns; (7) biggest areas of change in personal life. Generally, participants' mental health experiences varied with some not being affected by the pandemic in a way related to their ethnicity, some sharing positive experiences and coping strategies (exercising more, spending more time with family, community cohesion), and some expressing negative experiences (eating or drinking more, feeling more isolated, or even racism and abuse, especially toward Asian communities). Concerns were raised around trust issues in relation to the media, the inadequate representation of ethnic minorities, and the spread of fake news especially on social media. Attitudes toward vaccinations varied too, with some people more willing to have the vaccine than others. Conclusion This study's findings highlight the diversity in the pandemic mental health experiences of ethnic minorities in the UK and has implications for policy, practice and further research. To enable moving forward beyond the pandemic, our study surfaced the need for culturally appropriate mental health support, financial support (as a key mental health determinant), accurate media representation, and clear communication messaging from the Governments of the UK

Disease · Environmental health · Ethnic group · Health equity · Mental health · Pandemic · Population · Psychiatry · Public health · Qualitative research · Social science · Sociology · Thematic analysis · COVID-19 and Mental Health · Medicine · Mental Health Treatment and Access · Migration, Health and Trauma · Nursing · Psychology · Gerontology