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Mental Health Challenges Faced by CALD Individuals
Culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities in Australia refer to people from non-English-speaking backgrounds, across a wide range of cultural, ethnic and language groups.
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, people from CALD backgrounds may experience greater challenges in mental health and wellbeing, and in accessing relevant support services like professional counselling.
This guide explores some of the mental health challenges and accessibility issues experienced by CALD communities, as well as how culturally responsive therapy can help improve access to support.
Prevalence of Mental Health Conditions Among CALD Individuals
There are currently gaps in research data on the prevalence of mental health conditions among people from CALD backgrounds. Findings across studies vary, with some reporting lower rates of mental health conditions among CALD groups compared to Australian-born or English-speaking populations.
However, researchers suggest that mental health difficulties among CALD communities may be underreported due to factors such as cultural stigma and language barriers, which may reduce their likelihood of seeking help.
A 2025 review of 30 research papers examining mental health issues among non-refugee migrants in Australia revealed notable differences between cultural groups:
- 43.1% of migrants from Greece reported anxiety disorders compared to 15.8% of Australian-born individuals.
- Migrants from Lebanon (33%) and China (19%) reported higher levels of psychological distress compared to Australian-born individuals (12.4%).
- Migrants from non-English-speaking backgrounds had a higher prevalence of depression (19.7% vs. 10%).
These findings suggest that CALD communities may experience increased vulnerability to mental health challenges.
Barriers to Mental Health Services for CALD Individuals
People from CALD backgrounds experience differences in languages, worldviews and communication styles, which can sometimes create challenges when navigating workplaces, education, healthcare systems, and the broader community in Australia. They may also experience racial discrimination and social exclusion which negatively impact mental health.
So why are people from CALD backgrounds less likely to seek mental health support?
Cultural Stigma
Cultural stigma is well documented as one of the biggest reasons why people from CALD backgrounds do not seek mental health support.
In some cultures, mental health issues may be associated with shame or personal weakness. People from these cultural backgrounds may not want to seek support due to the fear of being judged by family, friends, or others in their community.
Communication Gaps
Many forms of mental health support involve some element of talk-based therapy or verbal communication between the client and practitioner. In Australia, the majority of mental health counselling providers conduct sessions in English.
For CALD individuals, trying to articulate their issues to a counsellor who cannot communicate in their native language can feel frustrating or futile. Communication barriers may affect a clinician’s understanding of the client’s experiences and needs, which can reduce the effectiveness of therapy.
Mental health practitioners unfamiliar with a client’s cultural background may also overlook cultural nuances associated with their behaviours, expressions of distress, or help-seeking patterns, which may contribute to misunderstandings or misdiagnosis.
Financial Factors
Cost is consistently cited as a barrier to accessing mental health support for CALD individuals.
A 2024 study on mental health service access among Croatia- and Bosnia-born migrants reported financial barriers as one of the main deterrents to accessing support. Similarly, a 2016 study of sub-Saharan African communities reported cost as one of the main barriers to accessing mental health treatment.
Systemic Exclusion
Researchers suggest there has been a historical underrepresentation of CALD populations in Australian mental health research and services. According to a systematic review of Australian mental health research published between 1992 and 2012, only 9.7% of studies included considerations of people from CALD backgrounds.
These knowledge gaps contribute to limitations in culturally responsive mental health services, making it difficult for CALD individuals to find appropriate care that aligns with their language, cultural values, or lived experiences.
Culturally Responsive Therapy for CALD Individuals
Fortunately, in recent years, there has been growing awareness of the mental health challenges faced by CALD Australians.
Culturally responsive therapy aims to help CALD individuals feel heard and understood within the context of their cultural identity and values.
Mental health professionals who provide culturally responsive therapy consider cultural nuances and lived experiences like migration and family dynamics during the therapeutic process. Some people may also prefer to work with practitioners who speak their native language or share a similar cultural background. This can support clearer communication and engagement during therapy.
Mental health providers like New Vision Psychology have a multicultural team of psychologists who provide culturally responsive therapy across a wide range of languages, including Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Korean, Spanish, Greek, Portuguese, Indonesian, Malay, Bengali, Hindi, Urdu, Farsi, Sinhala, Shanghainese, Norwegian, and Croatian. For many CALD individuals, working with a culturally and linguistically aligned psychologist can help them feel more understood, respected, and supported.