APPRECIATING BACKGROUND AND CULTURE - THE SOUTH ASIAN ELDERLY AND MENTAL-HEALTH

In the next decade there will be an increase in the number of elderly people from a South Asian background. All too often minority groups ar e treated as homogenous, leading to inappropriate generalisations, unm et need, and unsuitable treatment and management. In order to understa nd and manage a person's illness it is necessary to appreciate the eff ects of their culture, experiences and environment. The South Asian co mmunity is well established in the UK and the attitudes of the growing elderly population towards mental illness, their expressions of distr ess, and views on management and treatment are only now being canvasse d. Awareness of these issues is essential before epidemiological studi es of depression and dementia and use of health services by this group will provide beneficial results. (C) 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.