“As I know, there is nothing there for our people”: unmasking mental health literacy and help-seeking attitudes among ethnic minorities in Hong Kong

Ethnic minorities bear a great burden of mental health problems and have been shown to underutilize mental health services. Mental health literacy – critical for recognizing and addressing these issues – remains underexplored among ethnic minorities, particularly regarding their interaction with health systems. This article aims to understand ethnic minorities’ mental health literacy and help-seeking attitudes in a multicultural context. Specifically, we explore how mental health understanding in this population is influenced by both ethnic factors and their interaction with health systems. Using the case of South Asian older adults in Hong Kong, we conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with 28 South Asian elders and their caregivers. The findings highlight limited mental health literacy among Hong Kong’s ethnic minorities, who struggle to recognize mental disorders and understand their causes. Cultural beliefs, ethnically contextual factors, and structural barriers within health systems shape their perspectives on mental health. Despite their willingness to seek professional mental healthcare services, participants faced inadequate informational support and systemic inclusivity challenges in healthcare institutions. This study highlights the obstacles ethnic minorities in Hong Kong encounter in accessing mental healthcare, emphasizing systemic barriers within health systems. The findings contribute to broader discussions on reducing health disparities in multicultural societies.