Mental Health Help-Seeking Among Indian Immigrants: A Scoping Review

Abstract

This scoping review examined mental health help-seeking preferences and factors influencing formal help-seeking among Indian immigrants. Conducted using the PRISMA-ScR framework, searches were undertaken in PubMed, PsychINFO, Ovid’s Embase and CINAHL using combinations of keywords relating to mental health, help-seeking, and Indian immigrants. Studies were eligible if they focused on Indian immigrants’ mental health help-seeking, were conducted in the United States, Canada, Australia or the United Kingdom and were published in English from 2000 onwards. Peer-reviewed journal articles and dissertations were included, while other non-peer-reviewed sources were excluded. The review synthesised 21 studies involving adults aged 18 to 84 years. Most samples included more females than males, were predominantly first-generation immigrants and were largely Hindu, Sikh or Jain. Studies were mainly conducted in the United States, involved qualitative designs, and were from dissertations. Two key patterns were identified. Firstly, Indian immigrants preferred informal, semi-informal, and self-help strategies for managing mental health concerns, with low utilisation of formal services. Secondly, decisions to access formal sources were shaped by various cultural and attitudinal factors. These findings highlight the role of sociocultural beliefs in Indian immigrants’ help-seeking and the need for culturally sensitive mental health promotion initiatives to improve help-seeking outcomes in this population.