'Nobody can help me...i am living through it alone': experiences of caring for people diagnosed with mental illness in ethno-cultural and linguistic minority communities

• Published in: Journal of immigrant and minority health Vol. 8; no. 2; pp. 125 - 135
• Main Authors: Kokanovic, Renata, Petersen, Alan, Klimidis, Steven
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Springer Nature B.V 01.04.2006
• Subjects: Adult; Caregivers; Caregivers - psychology; Caring; China - ethnology; Community health care; Community Health Services; Community Relations; Community Services; Cultural Differences; Dropout Rate; Ethnic Groups; Europe - ethnology; Family Relationship; Female; Health policy; Humans; Institutionalization; Interviews; Interviews as Topic; Language; Language Minorities; Linguistics; Male; Mental disorders; Mental Disorders - diagnosis; Mental Health; Mental health care; Middle Aged; Minority & ethnic groups; Minority Groups; Noncitizens; Personal health; Social research; Statistical analysis; Studies; Western Australia; Western Australia; China; Europe; Australia
• ISSN: 1557-1912; 1557-1920
• DOI: 10.1007/s10903-006-8521-0

Caregivers of people diagnosed with mental illness in ethno-cultural and linguistic minority communities (ECLMCs) face considerable demands and difficulties in their day-to-day caring role. Data from interviews with 20 caregivers from Polish, Croatian, Bosnian, and Chinese communities, undertaken in Perth, Western Australia, explore the roles caregivers play in the lives of their relatives and illustrate their use and non-use of support services. A diverse array of challenges confronts caregivers across the different ECLMCs. Although not an unequivocally negative experience, caring for a relative diagnosed with mental illness was found to frequently disrupt family relationships and to lead to physical and mental exhaustion as well as social isolation. The stigma associated with mental illness in ECLMCs is a significant factor dissuading people from seeking assistance from external agencies. Many mainstream services are seen as inappropriate, which appears to be a factor in their under-utilization. If mental health policies and community services are to seriously address the issue of appropriate support for caregivers from ECLMCs, it is important that they are aware of the nature of the considerable demands placed on such caregivers as they endeavor to support their dependent relatives.