Psychiatric Illness among West Indians in London

Relevant literature on the subject of West Indian (WI) to migration to the UK & mental health is reviewed. Observations re the prevalence & characteristics of major & minor psychiatric illness among a group of WI's in London are reported. While no definite conclusions re the incidence &/or prevalence of psychiatric illness can be drawn, because of various methodological limitations, the data suggests that WI immigrants to London have a remarkably low rate of mental illness requiring hosp'zation but that the rate of minor psychiatric illness may be higher than would be expected. In the course of a study in 3 London mental hosp's only 18 out of some 18,000 patients proved to be WI. The results of a 6 mo morbidity 'survey in a group general practice, in the catchment area of these same hosp's, suggests the possibility that there is a high rate of psychiatric morbidity of the lesser disorders amonest WI's in London. AA.