Commentary: Counting heads may mask cultural and social factors

摘要

This study on the prevalence of common mental health disorders is commendable, but the findings should be interpreted with caution. Cross cultural studies of mental health are controversial and difficult to conduct and interpret Ethnicity is a complex variable. For example, African Caribbean, which is used in this study, encompasses people from a multitude of islands with diverse cultures. Presentation and prevalence of illness is also likely to vary. The broad term white European also encompasses many ethnic groups, including Polish, Bosnian, and Irish. These groups have different rates of mental illness. For example, compared with white English people the Irish have a high rate of diagnosed mental health problems. Place of birth is also relevant. The experiences, health beliefs, and patterns of health seeking behaviour of a young African Caribbean born in the United Kingdom are likely to differ from those of an older migrant from Jamaica. In addition, over a fifth of white Europeans in this study were born abroad and may have common experiences with some of the migrants from the Caribbean, particularly of discrimination.