Ability to detect depression in ethnic minority groups: a UK Biobank cohort study

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23.7% of UK Biobank participants met criteria for a lifetime history of depression.
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Depression identification was significantly lower in all ethnic minority groups compared to White participants.
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Black, other Asian, and South Asian participants were more likely to belong to the somatic depression phenotype.
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The study highlights limitations in current screening tools for detecting depression in ethnic minority groups.
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Culturally informed assessment approaches may improve the detection and support of depression in diverse populations.

Bmj Mental Health

by Amy Ronaldson, Mel Ramasawmy, Paramjit S Gill, Rose Rickford, Hannah Frith, Andrea Martinez, Madiha Sajid, Khaula Ali, Lydia Poole
July 13, 2026

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