Findings are reported from semi-structured interviews with 23 general practitioners (GPs) in the Auckland region, including both Māori and non-Māori GPs, that elicited their views about risk factors for depression, recognising depression and circumstances in which GPs would prescribe medication or recommend other treatments for depression. The interviewers hoped to establish possible reasons for reported lower levels of diagnosis and treatment of depression among Māori compared to non-Māori patients. Reasons reported by GPs as most likely to lead to ethnic differences in diagnosing depression were greater stigma relating to admitting depression among Māori patients, Māori patients being less likely to talk about being depressed, and the need for patients to have effective communication with their GP. Effective communication, where Māori patients felt free to talk about personal feelings, was more likely when there was an established relationship between the GP and patient.
