The PAPER Study Roundtable 2 in-person event at Queen Mary University of London

The PAPER Study team hosted its second roundtable event at Queen Mary University of London, bringing together primary care clinicians, researchers, and patient public representatives to explore preliminary findings and shape the next phase of the project. The event marked an important step towards co-developing practical, culturally responsive resources to support the diagnosis and management of depression among South Asian patients in primary care.

The roundtable provided an opportunity to share emerging insights from our mixed-methods research, which examines diagnostic practices, the cultural competency of screening tools, and antidepressant prescribing decision-making. The session created space for collaborative dialogue, ensuring that the perspectives of those working in and alongside primary care directly informs the direction of the PAPER Study.

A central aim of the event was to begin the co-development of a toolkit designed to support general practitioners in delivering more equitable and culturally sensitive care. Discussions focused on identifying real-world challenges and translating these into actionable, usable resources.

Understanding challenges in the consultation process

We explored the key challenges within consultations and where a targeted toolkit could offer practical support. These included difficulties in recognising mental health needs, building trust around sensitive topics, and appropriately applying screening measures for South Asian patients with depression.

Treatment and follow-up also presented challenges. These included:

• Limited access to specialist talking therapies 
• Reluctance among some patients to discuss mental health concerns 
• Structural barriers that prevent continuity of care 
• Pressures on social prescribing services and community organisations.

Participants also reflected on the difficulties faced by practitioners working in areas with smaller South Asian populations, where culturally tailored services and community networks may be less readily available.

What should a toolkit include?

Discussions then turned to what a meaningful and effective toolkit might look like in primary care.

For patients, participants emphasised the need for:

• Resources to help individuals recognise symptoms of depression 
• Information for family members to help legitimise mental health concerns 
• Materials that are culturally relevant, accessible, and trusted within communities.

For GPs, suggested content included:

• Training on how depression may present differently across patients, including indirect or non-verbal expressions
• Guidance on recognising culturally specific manifestations of depression in South Asian patients 
• Use of lived-experience content, such as videos of patients describing their experiences 
• Consideration of faith-based approaches, ensuring these are culturally competent and appropriately integrated.

Designing for usability and impact

Participants stressed that the success of any toolkit would depend not only on its content but also on its usability within primary care settings. 

Key recommendations included:

• Delivering content through flexible formats, such as short videos or podcasts 
• Aligning resources with continuing professional development 
• Developing tools to support shared decision-making between clinicians and patients 
• Ensuring the toolkit is validated, endorsed, and easy to evaluate 
• Designing resources that are digital and integrated into existing clinical systems.

Moving forward together

The roundtable reinforced the value of co-production in developing solutions that are both practical and meaningful. By grounding the toolkit in the lived realities of primary care and the experiences of South Asian communities, the PAPER Study aims to contribute to more equitable mental health care.

We are grateful to all who attended and contributed to the discussions. Their insights will directly shape the development of the toolkit, and we look forward to sharing further progress as the project continues.