Exploring Lay Understandings and Help-Seeking Pathways for Psychosis in the Sikh Community: A Qualitative Study in the UK
Kular, Ariana Tuomainen, Helena Singh, Swaran Preet
Kular, Ariana
Tuomainen, Helena
Singh, Swaran Preet
Abstract
Background 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.
Objective 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.
Participants 30 participants, 11 men and 19 women, ages ranged from 19 to 69, who identified as Sikh.
Results 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.
Conclusion 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.
MIDER Authors
Date
2025-06
Type
Article
Subject
Collections
Citation
Kular A, Tuomainen H, Majid M, et alExploring Lay Understandings and Help-Seeking Pathways for Psychosis in the Sikh Community: A Qualitative Study in the UKBMJ Open 2025;15:e088168. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-088168
Journal / Source Title
BMJ Open
DOI
10.1136/bmjopen-2024-088168
PMID
Publisher
BMJ Publishing Group
Publisher’s URL
https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/7/e088168