Exploring Lay Understandings and Help-Seeking Pathways for Psychosis in the Sikh Community: A Qualitative Study in the UK.

Abstract

Psychotic disorders are more prevalent among minority ethnic groups in the UK. However, there is no research on how the British Sikh community understands and seeks help for psychosis. The way in which a community understands the nature, causes and treatment of psychosis can impact their duration of untreated psychosis, treatment pathways, experience and engagement with mental health services, and outcomes. To explore the lay understandings of psychosis and associated help-seeking within the Sikh community in England, and how family, religion and culture influence these perspectives DESIGN AND SETTING: An exploratory qualitative design, consisting of online semistructured interviews across the UK. 30 participants, 11 men and 19 women, ages ranged from 19 to 69, who identified as Sikh. Thematic analysis revealed several common themes, including a lack of awareness and knowledge of psychosis, variety of causal beliefs held about psychosis, professional help-seeking being encouraged, religious practices regarded as helpful coping mechanisms, supernatural beliefs influencing alternative help-seeking, strong negative perceptions towards psychosis and general mental illness, the significant role of family and community, and conflicting religious and cultural beliefs. Participants showed limited understanding of psychosis and mental illnesses, accompanied by widespread negative perceptions, potentially delaying help-seeking. Increasing awareness may prompt earlier help-seeking, enhancing outcomes and diminishing stigma.