Exploring help-seeking behaviours among minority ethnic women regarding perinatal mental health challenges in England: a qualitative study

Background

Minority ethnic women (MEW) face a high risk of perinatal mental health issues but are among the least likely to disclose emotional concerns to healthcare professionals. However, what leads to low help-seeking behaviours among MEW is poorly understood, and it is unclear how to best promote help-seeking in this population.

Objectives

To explore the help-seeking behaviours of MEW related to perinatal mental health and identify approaches to promote greater help-seeking.

Methods

In this preregistered qualitative study, we used purposeful sampling via social media to recruit MEW who had experienced perinatal mental health problems. Semi-structured interviews exploring these women's experiences of perinatal mental health and help-seeking behaviours were conducted via Microsoft Teams. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Findings

Seventeen interviews were conducted between January and April 2025. Participants’ mean age was 34 years and the mean age of their youngest child was two years. Participants identified as African, Indian, Turkish, Filipino, Chinese, Indonesian, Latino, Sri Lankan, White and Black Caribbean, and any other Asian background. The findings indicated that cultural silence around mental health and low confidence in healthcare professionals/maternity services were major barriers to help-seeking. Suggestions to facilitate help-seeking included clearer, more reassuring information about services, and attending to MEW’s sense of belonging and representation within the services.

Conclusions

Intervention efforts should prioritise using culturally sensitive language that is clear, informative and reassuring to MEW. Cultural sensitivity training for healthcare professionals and developing strategies to reduce loneliness and isolation may also be helpful for MEW mental health.