Why do ethnic Chinese in the Netherlands underutilize mental health care services? Evidence from a qualitative study

Datos Bibliográficos

ID2395029
AutoresCha-Hsuan Liu (0000-0003-4467-8756, Utrecht University, autor de correspondencia), Ludwien Meeuwesen (Utrecht University), Floryt Van Wesel (VU University Amsterdam), David Ingleby (0000-0003-2675-9202, University of Amsterdam)
Año2015
Volumen52
Número3
Páginas331-352
Fecha de publicación2015-06-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaTranscultural Psychiatry (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1363-4615 • E-ISSN: 1461-7471
EditorialSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/1363461514557887
PMID25468826
OpenAlexW2164161426
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas10
Referencias citadas32

Chinese immigrants in the Netherlands are less likely than other ethnic groups to utilize mainstream mental health care services. This study investigated the experiences of Chinese with mental health problems, to inform measures to make services more responsive to the needs of this group. Qualitative methods of analysis were applied to interview data in order to explore ways of finding help, barriers to accessing mainstream mental health care, experiences in care, factors jeopardizing the quality of care, and views on mental health services among Chinese migrants in the Netherlands. Rather than recruiting individuals with mental health problems, an indirect method was used in which ethnic Chinese participants were invited to tell us about one or more Chinese individuals in their social environment whom they regarded as having (had) mental health problems ([Formula: see text]). Although most Chinese regarded mainstream Dutch care as the appropriate resource for dealing with mental health problems, many barriers to access and threats to care quality were reported. In contrast to the widely accepted view that cultural differences in health beliefs underlie the low utilization of mental health services by Chinese in the West, the main obstacles identified in this study concerned practical issues such as communication problems and lack of knowledge of the health system. Respondents also described concerns about entitlement to care and discrimination (actual or anticipated). Measures suggested by respondents for improving care included increased use of interpreters and cultural mediators, encouraging migrants to increase their language proficiency, and better dissemination of information about the health system. The article concludes with a discussion of the policy implications of these findings

Ethnic group · Mental health · Mental health care · Psychiatry · Qualitative research · Sociology · Anthropology · Clinical Psychology · Employment and Welfare Studies · Medicine · Mental Health Treatment and Access · Migration, Health and Trauma · Psychology · Gerontology