Book excerpt: Mental health care needs vary in different groups of people, but many healthcare professionals have a poor understanding of exactly how. From ethnicity to sexuality, family to religion, "Mental Health Care for People of Diverse Backgrounds" is a unique examination of how cultures can, and should, influence psychological services. It presents both theoretical and practical information regarding assessment, diagnosis and treatment. Concentrating on empirically based treatments, the book fuses clinical experience and research to give a wide-ranging overview. It also features many illuminating case studies. It is an invaluable reference for all mental healthcare professionals including psychologists, psychiatrists, doctors, social workers, nurses and counsellors, as well as students and academics with an interest in mental healthcare. "The information contained in these chapters is intended for individuals with many levels of clinical training and is therefore appropriate for trainees in psychology and psychiatry, as well as experienced mental health providers. The chapters in this book contain information relevant to assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of individuals from diverse populations." - Julia D Buckner, Yezzennya Castro, Jill M Holm-Denoma and Thomas E Joiner Jr.