A Qualitative Study to Explore the Help Seeking Views Relating to Depression Among Older Black Caribbean Adults Living in the UK

Rationale: Worldwide, literature has documented a rise in number among the older adult population, and a high prevalence of depression within this group. In the UK, rates of mental health problems within Black and minority groups are thought to be higher than in the white population. Mental health service providers need to understand the experiences and beliefs that underlie help seeking behaviour in order to deliver effective, culturally appropriate and accessible services; however, literature suggests these beliefs have rarely been explored within older adults from ethnic minority groups.
Aims: Research specifically on help seeking among Black Caribbean people is limited. Therefore, this study will explore the personal experiences, meanings, and contexts that underlie help seeking in relation to self-defined depression among the UK’s older Black Caribbean adults, both now and when younger. In addition, the study aims to explore some of the barriers experienced by participants, if any when considering seeking help from mental health services for depression.
Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 8 UK Black Caribbean participants, aged between 65-79 years. Transcripts were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis principles.
Findings: Three master themes emerged from analysis: 1) “If you don’t know, you don’t seek help” 2) “….I was depressed…I knew I was depressed” and 3) “You have to decide”: Attitudes to help seeking and mental health service use. A description of these Master themes and ten related subordinate themes are discussed.
Conclusion: The findings revealed how participants past personal experiences of coping with depression including migratory histories, cultural and religious views and personal relationships influenced help seeking views and preferred coping methods for depression. In addition, several issues were discovered to influence decision-making on whether to seek help or not from mental health services for depression. Findings from this study could be considered to inform the delivery of mental health services and be transferred into policy.