Application of the community engagement model to the identification of mental health service needs of Chinese elders in the UK

Abstract

This paper is based on a study* conducted by the Chinese National Healthy Living Centre (CNHLC), which is a national non-government organization promoting healthy living and facilitating access to health services for the Chinese community in the UK. The study was undertaken in 2007 to 2008 in Westminster, Kensington & Chelsea and Brent. It aims to explore the barriers to access to mental health services for Chinese elders and their experiences of the services; and to provide recommendations on policy and practice. Statistics have shown that the Chinese population in the UK has consistently underutilized the National Health Service in general and mental health services in particular. The under-representation of Chinese psychiatric patients could be due to low prevalence of psychiatric morbidity or under-use of services. Nonetheless, research evidence has suggested that conventional service provision is inadequate in meeting the mental health needs of the Chinese community. To enhance the understanding of this situation, the study has adopted the Community Engagement Model to seek the views of the community from within. The model was initiated by the Centre for Ethnicity and Health with an emphasis on getting local community groups across England to conduct their own needs assessments, in relation to mental health needs and other areas such as drugs misuse, prevention and treatment services. In this process, the model aims to provide the opportunity and support for community groups to learn more about the issues concerned, and the skills of undertaking and managing the work. This paper examines the features of the model and its application to the study. It will also discuss the potentials of the model in exploring mental health needs of other groups in the Chinese community in the UK and in Chinese societies outside the UK.