Carers advice for support and information services

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 >> Kiran - Interview 26 >> He thinks fewer changes of doctors, longer consultations and clearer packaging of medicine would help carers and service users (recording in Gujarati)

Kiran has been caring for his wife for seven years. She has a lot of health issues and it took over 20 years to find out that depression was an important part of her problems.

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 >> Aiko - Interview 17 >> The information Aiko got came late, and without any guidance or direction.

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 >> Nick - Interview 02 >> Initially, Nick got little information from the CPN.

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 son or daughter >> Sarah - Interview 25 >> Sarah found out most of what she knows about schizophrenia on the internet (played by an actor).

Sarah cares for her son who has shcizophrenia. She is active in several carer's oganisations.

Mental health >> Mental health: ethnic minority carers’ experiences >> People caring for their husband, wife or partner >> Kiran - Interview 26 >> Kiran did not know about depression and didn't know where to look for help other than medicine (recording in Gujarati).

Kiran has been caring for his wife for seven years. She has a lot of health issues and it took over 20 years to find out that depression was an important part of her problems.

Mental health >> Mental health: ethnic minority carers’ experiences >> People caring for a parent >> Amar - Interview 01 >> Amar thinks more resources are needed to help people avoid getting mental health problems caused by the stresses and strains of life.

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 sister or brother >> Ramila - Interview 13 >> She suggests professionals should work with carers to help them identify what information they need.

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 their husband, wife or partner >> Kiran - Interview 26 >> Non-technical language and information in writing can make it easier to understand (recording in Gujarati).

Kiran has been caring for his wife for seven years. She has a lot of health issues and it took over 20 years to find out that depression was an important part of her problems.

Mental health >> Mental health: ethnic minority carers’ experiences >> People caring for a son or daughter >> Tina - Interview 18 >> Tina says information should be available in different languages (played by an actor).

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 son or daughter >> Nick - Interview 02 >> He suggests that new cares should be given carers' packs, that they should be kept informed and be part of treatment teams.

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 their husband, wife or partner >> Pooja - Interview 23 >> She says information must be made available to make sure people get help quicker than they did.

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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