title: How general practitioners manage mental illness in culturally and linguistically diverse patients: an exploratory study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  General practitioners (GPs) see a range of mental illnesses and a diversity of patients, including patients from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. The aim of this study was to understand the barriers and facilitators GPs encounter when managing mental illness in CALD patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semi-structured interviews with 10 Melbourne GPs were undertaken between May and July 2013. Data were analysed thematically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GP barriers included difficulties in recognising initial symptoms, communicating the diagnosis and using interpreter services. Facilitators included cultural concordance between the GP and patient, practice-based initiatives targeting CALD patients, and areas of further education for GPs and CALD patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cultural concordance between GPs and CALD patients is likely to be effective in facilitating management of mental illness. Further research is needed on interpreter use and scaling up practice-based initiatives to improve service delivery. At a population level, GPs thought it necessary to improve mental health literacy in CALD communities.
authors.affiliation: MBBS, BMedSci (Hons), General Practitioner, Melbourne, VIC.
authors.forename: Sujatha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harding
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schattner
authors.forename: Bianca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brijnath
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D003469:Culture; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014739:Victoria