Carers of People with Mental Illness from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities

• Published in: Australian social work Vol. 72; no. 3; pp. 312 - 324
• Main Authors: Poon, Abner Weng Cheong, Lee, Jung-Sook
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United Kingdom Routledge 03.07.2019; Taylor & Francis; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Australia; Caregivers; Caregiving; Community; Community mental health services; Cultural Responsiveness; Cultural sensitivity; Culturally and Linguistically Diverse; CULTURE; DIVERSITY; FAMILIES; Family; HEALTH CARE; Illnesses; Medical care; Mental Disorders; Mental health care; Mental health services; Mental Illness; MIGRANTS; Multiculturalism & pluralism; PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES; People with mental disabilities; Professional practice; Relatives; Responsiveness; Social services; Social work; Well being; Wellbeing; AUSTRALIA
• ISSN: 0312-407X; 1447-0748
• DOI: 10.1080/0312407X.2019.1604300

Australia is a multicultural country and it is common for families from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities to care for their relatives with mental illness. However, there are limited Australian studies examining the experiences of informal carers of people with mental illness from CALD communities. A scoping review was conducted to search for peer-reviewed articles reporting the perception of carers regarding their caregiving experiences, wellbeing, and needs. Using cultural responsiveness as a conceptual framework, this study analysed the findings of the identified studies to generate themes. Findings show that carers experience severe caregiving challenges and face considerably poor culturally oriented services in mental health. Social work implications concerning the need to provide culturally responsive practice in mental health services are discussed. Carers from culturally and linguistically diverse communities experience considerably poorer culturally oriented practices in mental health services. Cultural responsiveness is a relevant framework for social work practice with carers and their relatives with mental illness who are from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.