Diagnosis of mental illness in elderly people from ethnic minorities

Abstract

From the 1991 census (Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, 1993) it is estimated that 5.9% of the total population of England and Wales belong to an ethnic minority, and that 3% of this ethnic minority population are aged 65 years and older. This compares with 17% aged 65 years and older in the indigenous population. Although the numbers of elderly people from ethnic minorities are small in absolute terms, these groups are growing rapidly, and mental health professionals working with elderly patients will increasingly need to be equipped with the necessary services and skills to meet their specific needs. The elderly ethnic minority population of the UK is extremely diverse; the largest groups originate from the Indian subcontinent and the Caribbean, but there are also significant communities of Chinese, Somali, Vietnamese, Eastern European, Mediterranean and Irish origin, all of which require consideration when planning and providing services, whatever their numbers. This diversity is also important when considering the various factors that influence the presentation and diagnosis of mental disorders in these groups.