The Mental Health Status of South Asian Women in Britain: A Review of the UK Literature

This article reviews the research on the mental health status of South Asian women living in UK. It reports on the findings from epidemiological studies of the prevalence of depression, suicide, parasuicide, deliberate self-harm and eating disorders in this community. Focus is on research studies that describe cultural influences on conceptualisations and expressions of distress, help seeking behaviours and alternative coping strategies. The influence of acculturation and “culture conflict” as they impact upon women’s mental health is also highlighted. The review concludes by considering, first, salient cultural and religious concepts identified in studies that may facilitate understanding South Asian women’s mental ill health, and second, the urgent need to develop gender, linguistic and culturally sensitive mental health services for women of South Asian origins now citizens of UK.