In Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities (also known as the CALD community), it is common that people don’t realise that they are considered a carer. For many, being a carer is just part of being family.
People from the culturally and linguistically diverse community might think it is their responsibility to care for a loved one who is unwell, because it’s what you do when you are family.
A mental health carer is someone who provides support to a family member, partner or friend who is living with a mental health condition.
You don’t need to live with the person who is unwell, be the main source of care and support, or receive a payment to be considered a carer – you just need to help someone who needs care.
Am I A Mental Health Carer?
Carers from the cultural and linguistically diverse community can experience caring very differently from carers from others communities.
This is due to things like cultural values and beliefs, background and history, educational opportunities and literacy levels, and the availability (or lack thereof) of culturally appropriate services in the community (Carers NSW).
For many from the culturally and linguistically diverse community, there is a strong cultural expectation to rely on your loved ones for help, and to care for a relative, partner or friend if they become unwell (Poon and Lee 2019: 318).
Understanding the concept of mental health and mental health conditions in different cultures also poses a barrier to accessing support. In some communities, mental health is never spoken about, so people often don’t understand what is happening to them when they become unwell, or that there are supports to help them.
When a family member becomes unwell, it can bring shame to the family honour. Additionally, matters like this are traditionally only spoken about privately within the family, not outside – however sometimes it isn’t even spoken about within the family. Due to this, many people don’t seek out professional help and support, or even from their own family (LOTE Agency).
Sometimes, carers focus on the symptoms of the person they are caring for and how they can best treat that, rather than focus on their own mental health and wellbeing, and how this can affect the care they are providing. It is also a lot easier for some people to provide help, rather than to accept it themselves.
Because of these issues, carers from culturally and linguistically diverse communities are more likely to be ‘hidden carers’. A hidden carer is when someone provides care for someone, but doesn’t identify with the term carer. Therefore, hidden carers don’t usually access the traditional supports and services that can help them.
A number of studies have reported that carers from cultural and linguistically diverse communities faced barriers and challenges due to:
Carers from the cultural and linguistically diverse community can also miss out on financial payments from the Government and other support services due to these barriers.
It is important to find out what works best for you as a carer, the supports that are available, and how to seek help.
Visit your local doctor or GP, and ask them what sort of services and supports are available for you and your loved one, and how you can access them. You can also ask them what your rights as a mental health carer are.
You can read more about your rights as a mental health carer in our ‘what are my rights as a carer?’ section on our website.
Speaking with another healthcare professional such as a counsellor or a psychologist can be beneficial. You might find it helpful to speak about your feelings and what is happening in your life (whether related to your caring duties or not), and you may come up with strategies together about how to address these.
Reach out and connect with a carer support group, where you can speak with other carers in similar situations to you.
Transcultural Mental Health Centre runs carer support groups in different languages.
See our ‘Support Services’ below for more information.
Speaking to a trusted person, such as a friend or close family member, can create a space for you to talk about how you are feeling as a carer. It can also allow you to engage in conversations that are not about caring. This can help separate caring from other aspects of your life.
Learn to identify when you are starting to feel stressed and overwhelmed in your caring role.
For example, you might have a short temper, or experience mood swings. Use these signs as a reminder to take some ‘me’ time. You also need to take care of yourself and your own needs, not just your loved one.
You can read more about taking care of yourself and some helpful strategies, in our ‘Taking care of myself’ section on our website.
“Carer support groups enable me to share my experiences with others as well as learn about others’ experiences. It also gives me time out from my carer’s role in addition to mental and emotional support.” – a carer from a culturally and linguistically diverse community
The following organisations and resources offer specific support and information for carers and people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
TMHC work with people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, health professionals and partner organisations across NSW to support good mental health. They offer translated resources and run support groups for carers in various languages.
Website: dhi.health.nsw.gov.au/transcultural-mental-health-centre
Phone: 02 9912 3850
Address: 53, Cumberland Hospital Campus, 5 Fleet St, North Parramatta NSW 2151
Email: tmhc@health.nsw.gov.au
This brochure outlines how the Transcultural Mental Health Centre can support you in your caring role. It is available in 10 different languages.
Website: dhi.health.nsw.gov.au/transcultural-mental-health-centre
MDASA is the peak body for all people in NSW with disability and their families and carers, with a particular focus on those from a culturally and linguistically diverse/non English Speaking (NES) background with disability.
MDASA provides advocacy services for families and carers from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and non-English speaking backgrounds, with a disability in NSW.
Website: mdaa.org.au
Phone: 1800 629 072
Address: 10-12 Hutchinson Street Granville NSW 2142
Email: mdaa@mdaa.org.au
STARTTS provide culturally relevant psychological treatment and support to help people and communities heal the scars of torture and refugee trauma and rebuild their lives in Australia.
They provide counselling, support groups, group work, therapy, referral and case management.
Website: startts.org.au
Phone: 02 9646 6700
Address: 152–168 The Horsley Drive, Carramar NSW 2163
Email: stts-startts@health.nsw.gov.au
TIS is a free service that provides access to phone and on-site interpreting services in over 150 languages, 24/7.
When you call TIS, an operator will ask you what language you need. Tell the operator in English the language you speak.
The operator will then connect you with an interpreter who speaks your language.
You may need to wait on the line for the interpreter, or the operator may need to call you back when an interpreter is available.
Phone: 13 14 50
Website: tisnational.gov.au
Reimagine Today is a website for people living with a mental health condition who wish to apply for support through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
The website guides users through the steps and information you need to make an application for NDIS support. They have specifically designed a hub on the NDIS for culturally and linguistically diverse communities, with information for both carers and people living with a mental health condition.
Website: reimagine.today/multicultural-hub
The Carer Gateway has fact sheets about the Carer Gateway and how they support carers, factsheets about being a carer and seeking support, as well as real life stories translated in a number of languages.
The NSW Multicultural Mental Health Communication Service helps to communicate health information to people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Website: mhcs.health.nsw.gov.au
Phone: 02 9332 9710
Embrace have a range of information and fact sheets on their website about common mental health concerns and mental health conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, eating disorders, schizophrenia, trauma, personality disorders, and how to get help, in a wide range of languages.
Website: embracementalhealth.org.au
This guide provides information on how to access information of the person you are caring for when they are in hospital and which health staff to speak to.
Website: health.nsw.gov.au
Yooralla has fact sheets in a number of languages to assist people to access the NDIS.
Website: yooralla.com.au
The following organisations offer support for all carers. You can contact these organisations for information and support.
Carers NSW is the peak body for all different types of carers in NSW. They run a range of educational workshops and events, social events, the young carers program, resources, and more.
Website: carersnsw.org.au
Phone: 02 9280 4744
Provides emotional, practical and financial support for carers, such as counselling, coaching, peer support groups, emergency respite, and more.
Website: carergateway.gov.au
Phone: 1800 422 737
Run across NSW, this program offers free training and education workshops, support groups, social events, help with advocacy, and more.
For more info and how to access the program, check out the ‘Family and Carer Mental Health Program’ section on our website.
Head to Health can help you find digital mental health services from some of Australia’s most trusted mental health organisations.
Provided by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, Head to Health brings together apps, online programs, online forums, and phone services, as well as a range of digital information resources.
Whether you are trying to improve your own sense of wellbeing, looking for help with something that is bothering you, or helping someone you care about—Head to Health is a good place to start.
Website: headtohealth.gov.au
For additional services, check out our ‘Carer Support Directory’.
Carers NSW, ‘Engaging with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) carers: An overview’ https://www.carersnsw.org.au/uploads/main/Files/5.About-us/Our-research/Engaging_with_CALD_carers_Overview.pdf
LOTE Agency, https://www.loteagency.com.au/mental-health-and-the-unique-challenges-faced-by-people-from-cald-backgrounds/
Poon AWC; Lee JS, 2019, ‘Carers of People with Mental Illness from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities’, Australian Social Work, vol. 72, pp. 312 – 324, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0312407X.2019.1604300