title: 'Our community is the worst': the influence of cultural beliefs on stigma, relationships with family and help-seeking in three ethnic communities in London.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Existing knowledge about the cultural beliefs of black and minority ethnic (BME) communities in the UK regarding stigma and mental illness is limited.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected in 10 focus groups, five with service users and five with laypersons, from BME communities in London.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thematic analysis identified that cultural beliefs regarding mental illness reflect four different voices present within the BME communities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study revealed that cultural beliefs influencing both relationships with family and, consequently, help-seeking for individuals with mental illness must be considered in the development of anti-stigma interventions and when engaging communities around mental health.
authors.affiliation: Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK. guy.shefer@cantab.net
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shefer
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nellums
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Thornicroft
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Henderson
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Evans-Lacko
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000379:methods; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D003469:Culture; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology*; D005195:Family Relations / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D008605:Mental Health Services; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D013240:Stereotyping