Why do Chinese Canadians not consult mental health services: health status, language or culture?
Data from the Canadian Community Health Survey Cycle 1.1 showed that Chinese immigrants to Canada and Chinese individuals born in Canada were less likely than other Canadians to have contacted a health professional for mental health reasons in the previous year in the province of British Columbia. The difference persisted among individuals at moderate to high risk for depressive episode. Both immigrant and Canadian-born Chinese showed similar characteristics of mental health service use. The demographic and health factors that significantly affected their likelihood to consult mental health services included Chinese language ability, restriction in daily activities, frequency of medical consultations, and depression score. Notwithstanding lower levels of mental illness in ethnic Chinese communities, culture emerged as a major factor explaining differences in mental health consultation between Chinese and non-Chinese Canadians.
Chen
Alice W
AW
Children's Health Policy Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, #2431-515 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6B5K3, Canada. alicechen@sfu.ca
Kazanjian
Arminée
A
Wong
Hubert
H
D000328:Adult; D001955:British Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D003144:Communication Barriers; D003469:Culture; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology