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• Mental health >> Mental health: ethnic minority carers’ experiences >> People caring for their husband, wife or partner >> Anne - Interview 20 >> She thinks the way staff listen to carers should be part of routine monitoring of their work.

Anne has been caring for her husband, who has severe depression, over the last four years. She has recently returned to part time work after having been a full time carer for some time. She believes it should be a requirement that health professionals listen to carers.

• Mental health >> Mental health: ethnic minority carers’ experiences >> People caring for a son or daughter >> Nick - Interview 02 >> Just as doctors need education to treat a broken leg, carers need education and support to look after people with mental health problems.

Nick and his wife have cared for their son with paranoid schizophrenia for almost 12 years. In the beginning Nick didn't feel heard by health professionals, but today he is a very involved.

• Mental health >> Mental health: ethnic minority carers’ experiences >> People caring for a parent >> Amar - Interview 01 >> She thinks mental health issues should be part of the school curriculum.

Amar's mother got a schizophrenic disorder around the time the family moved from Kenya via India to England. Over forty years later, Amar is her mother's main carer, on top of a full time job and being a parent.

• Mental health >> Mental health: ethnic minority carers’ experiences >> People caring for a parent >> Anton - Interview16 >> Anton thinks the current carer's allowance is inadequate considering what they do.

Anton cares for his 84 year old mother who suffers from dementia. His caring responsibilities together with his own health problems meant he had to take early retirement, but he is very involved in voluntary work.

• Mental health >> Mental health: ethnic minority carers’ experiences >> People caring for a parent >> Nita - Interview 12 >> She says the NHS needs to take more responsibility and not expect voluntary organisations to do work it should be doing.

Nita cares for her mother who is diagnosed with manic depression. She thinks it is essential that carers have their own needs met and that they get support to come to terms with the loss and hurt they may feel.

• Mental health >> Mental health: ethnic minority carers’ experiences >> People caring for a parent >> Elaine - Interview 32 >> She thinks her father would have died in hospital had she not intervened using her skills as a nurse (played by an actor).

Elaine was the main carer for her father for the last four years of his life. He suffered from vascular dementia and Elaine feels both he as a patient and she as a carer were let down by the system.

• Mental health >> Mental health: ethnic minority carers’ experiences >> People caring for a son or daughter >> Miriam - Interview 05 >> A friendly doctor took time to talk properly to Miriam and her son.

Miriam carers for her son who is in his late twenties. He has been diagnosed with schizophrenia but she thinks what he has is drugs infused psychosis.

• Mental health >> Mental health: ethnic minority carers’ experiences >> People caring for a son or daughter >> Jane - Interview 22 >> Really careful listening is needed to understand the work carers do (played by an actor).

For the last 20 years Jane and her husband has cared for their daughter Sarah, who has schizophrenia. She worries about what will happen to their daughter when they are not around anymore.

• Mental health >> Mental health: ethnic minority carers’ experiences >> People caring for other or more than one relative >> Raye - Interview 30 >> Raye describes how caring for someone with a mental health problem requires time and expertise, and doesn't fit well with the 9-5 professional schedul

Raye grew up with mental health problems in the family. Today, she is the main carer for her father (paranoid schizophrenia), her sister (schizophrenia) and her brother (manic depression). She now feels she needs to let go of some of the responsibilities and focus on her own life.

• Mental health >> Mental health: ethnic minority carers’ experiences >> People caring for a son or daughter >> Miriam - Interview 05 >> Miriam wants carers and health professionals to have regular contact from day one.

Miriam carers for her son who is in his late twenties. He has been diagnosed with schizophrenia but she thinks what he has is drugs infused psychosis.

• Mental health >> Mental health: ethnic minority carers’ experiences >> People caring for a sister or brother >> Sophie - Interview 09 >> If you feel something isn't right, speak out about it. Ask questions, make notes and contact other carers that are going through the same things.

Sophie has always had a caring role for her sister Angel. Angel is diognosed with Schizophrenia, but Sophie thinks this diagnosis is based on behaviour resulting from inappropriate medication of a mental disability and behavioral problems.

• Mental health >> Mental health: ethnic minority carers’ experiences >> People caring for a sister or brother >> Ramila - Interview 13 >> Ramila says carers have an understanding and hope that professionals don't necessarily have.

Ramila has been caring for her brother who is diagnosed with schizophrenia for ten years. She thinks carers and service users deserve to be treated with more respect.

• Mental health >> Mental health: ethnic minority carers’ experiences >> People caring for a sister or brother >> Ramila - Interview 13 >> Ramila thinks carers sometimes put up with 'being blamed' because they feel so responsible.

Ramila has been caring for her brother who is diagnosed with schizophrenia for ten years. She thinks carers and service users deserve to be treated with more respect.

• Mental health >> Mental health: ethnic minority carers’ experiences >> People caring for a parent >> Elaine - Interview 32 >> She thinks it would be helpful to have someone to mediate when there is conflict between carers and service personnel (played by an actor).

Elaine was the main carer for her father for the last four years of his life. He suffered from vascular dementia and Elaine feels both he as a patient and she as a carer were let down by the system.

• Mental health >> Mental health: ethnic minority carers’ experiences >> People caring for their husband, wife or partner >> Ramanbhai - Interview 27 >> Ramanbhai comes along to his wife's consultations and they meet the psychiatrist together after she has been seen on her own.

Ramanbhai is a full time carer for his wife who suffers from depression. It took many years before she diagnosed, and she has other health issues as well.

• Mental health >> Mental health: ethnic minority carers’ experiences >> People caring for a son or daughter >> Jane - Interview 22 >> Jane thinks carers today are speaking up and being listened to more than before (played by an actor).

For the last 20 years Jane and her husband has cared for their daughter Sarah, who has schizophrenia. She worries about what will happen to their daughter when they are not around anymore.

• Mental health >> Mental health: ethnic minority carers’ experiences >> People caring for their husband, wife or partner >> Aiko - Interview 17 >> Patient confidentiality needs to be explained to people who are new to the UK and patients should be able to decide to have carers with them.

Aiko has been caring for her husband who suffers from complex post traumatic stress syndrome, bi-polar disorder and severe depression for seven years. She believes mental health services should address the needs of the whole family.

• Mental health >> Mental health: ethnic minority carers’ experiences >> People caring for a son or daughter >> Tina - Interview 18 >> She says the hospital wanted her to sign sectioning papers while 'bluffing' about what was actually going on, and not helping her with English transla

Tina cares for her son who suffers from mental health problems and she is also working as a carer for people with mental health problems at an Asian community centre.

• Mental health >> Mental health: ethnic minority carers’ experiences >> People caring for a parent >> Elaine - Interview 32 >> Elaine felt the psychiatrist questioned her mental health because she was a 'difficult relative' (played by an actor).

Elaine was the main carer for her father for the last four years of his life. He suffered from vascular dementia and Elaine feels both he as a patient and she as a carer were let down by the system.

• Mental health >> Mental health: ethnic minority carers’ experiences >> People caring for a son or daughter >> Agnes - Interview 29 >> Agnes was told she had to leave the hospital for her daughter's test, but was not told why.

Agnes has been caring for her daughter, who has OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) and depression, for four years.

• Mental health >> Mental health: ethnic minority carers’ experiences >> People caring for other or more than one relative >> Guo - Interview 14 >> When Guo approached his MP it was helpful to have the backing of his carer's organisation.

Guo has been caring for two sons with bi-polar disorder for over twenty years. He doesn't think the current services meet the needs of people with mental health problems.

• Mental health >> Mental health: ethnic minority carers’ experiences >> People caring for a parent >> Anton - Interview16 >> Over the years he has developed a good relationship with his GP.

Anton cares for his 84 year old mother who suffers from dementia. His caring responsibilities together with his own health problems meant he had to take early retirement, but he is very involved in voluntary work.

• Mental health >> Mental health: ethnic minority carers’ experiences >> People caring for their husband, wife or partner >> Marcie - Interview 04 >> She thinks every carer should get respite that suits their needs.

10 years ago Marcie's husband Larry was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Today he is completely depended on her and Marcie gave up her job as a Ward Clark to look after him. Most of Marcie's time is taken up with caring for him, which is restricting and isolating.

• Mental health >> Mental health: ethnic minority carers’ experiences >> People caring for their husband, wife or partner >> Emily - Interview 19 >> Emily doesn't want to be away from her family for long periods, so takes short breaks at the community centre.

Emily has been caing for her husband who suffers from Schizophrenia since she came to the UK three years ago. She says her relationship to God gives her peace and makes her able to cope with a difficult situation.

• Mental health >> Mental health: ethnic minority carers’ experiences >> People caring for their husband, wife or partner >> Pooja - Interview 23 >> The lack of suitable transport services makes it hard for her husband to attend community centres.

Pooja has cared for her husband for 12 years. He suffers from depression and from other health issues and is very dependent on her.

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• Mental health >> Mental health: ethnic minority carers’ experiences >> Carers' voice and confidentiality issues >> Carers' voice and confidentiality issues

Carers' voice and confidentiality issues