Carers' voice and confidentiality issues

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 sister or brother >> Ramila - Interview 13 >> Ramila got frustrated when she rang the surgery and they refused to tell her if her brother's test results were back.

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 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 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 parent >> Nita - Interview 12 >> Nita thinks professionals should give time to both carers and patients.

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 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 other or more than one relative >> Guo - Interview 14 >> In the USA Gou could go to weekly meetings at the hospital and talk to health professionals about his son.

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 son or daughter >> Miriam - Interview 05 >> Miriam says patient confidentiality is tricky when it puts people at risk.

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 >> Miriam - Interview 05 >> Miriam thinks regular communication between families and professionals can help prevent crises.

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 >> Sophie says doctors sometimes don't talk to you to protect 'their own'.

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 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 >> 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.

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