Mental health service use by Asians: a New Zealand census
Chow, C.S.; Mulder, R.T.
New Zealand Medical Journal 130(1461): 35-41
2017
ISSN/ISBN: 1175-8716 PMID: 28859064 Document Number: 693668
Asians are the third largest ethnic group in New Zealand. Little is known about their use of mental health services and the psychiatric diagnoses they receive in these services. To study rates of mental health service use and the prevalence of mental disorders in mental health services among New Zealand Asians compared to European, Māori and Pacific peoples. Date from PRIMHD (Program for the Integration of Mental Health Data) was collected over a five-year period from 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2013. There were 229,874 individuals who had contact with mental health services. Asians were less likely to use mental health services compared to European, Māori or Pacific people. Asian clinical diagnoses were similar to other ethnic groups. The major differences were lower rates of substance-related disorders and personality disorders. Asians have low rates of mental health service utilisation. There is no evidence they are more severely ill when using mental health services. This suggests Asians may have lower prevalence rates of mental disorder than other ethnic groups in New Zealand.