Depression in multicultural Australia: policies, research and services.
BACKGROUND
Depression is one of the leading causes of disability in Australia. The cultural and linguistic diversity of the Australian population poses a significant challenge to health policy development, service provision, professional education, and research. The purpose of this study is to explore the extent to which the fact of cultural and linguistic diversity has influenced the formulation of mental health policy, the conduct of mental health research and the development of mental health services for people with depression from ethnic minority communities.


METHODS
The methods used for the different components of the study included surveys and document-based content and thematic analyses.


RESULTS
Policy is comprehensive but its translation into programs is inadequate. Across Australia, there were few specific programs on depression in ethnic minority communities and they are confronted with a variety of implementation difficulties. The scope and scale of research on depression in Ethnic minority communities is extremely limited.


CONCLUSIONS
A key problem is that the research that is necessary to provide evidence for policy and service delivery is lacking. If depression in Ethnic minority communities is to be addressed effectively the gaps between policy intentions and policy implementation, and between information needs for policies and practice and the actual research that is being done, have to be narrowed.
Minas
Harry
H
Centre for International Mental Health, School of Population Health, The University of Melbourne, Bouverie Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia. h.minas@unimelb.edu.au
Klimidis
Steven
S
Kokanovic
Renata
R