To maximise recovery in mental illness it is crucial that families and medical teams work together. Cultural backgrounds and beliefs need to be understood by the treating teams.

As a direct result of my own son being diagnosed with schizophrenia I began to find out as much as possible about this condition and for the last 18 years have been working with carer/families. Born in Australia of Greek migrants I was influenced by the patterns and language of that culture.

Working with families from many diverse backgrounds has certainly given me insight into the effect of culture on attitudes to mental illness and it is imperative that clinicians understand how cultural beliefs can hinder recovery.

As each cultural group settles in Australia it brings its own values and beliefs; when affected by mental health these influences need to be considered. Some cultures are from a collective family system, which has been practised in the home country for generations. By its very nature, migration inevitably breaks down these traditions. Conflicts do arise between the first, second and even third generations of families when trying to make sense of mental illness. Each generation will have a different perception of illness and in my many years of interacting with families it has become apparent how different cultural attitudes can and do hinder or can help the recovery process.

Part of recovery depends on the sufferer being able to develop a sense of empowerment and independence. When independence is not encouraged within the family this can create problems and confusion for the consumers.

An example of where the recovery process can be hindered is in a family where the mother role is clearly defined. Her role is to be responsible for the upbringing and the teaching of cultural values to her children; her greatest accolade is to be regarded as a good mother in her community. Sadly, when mental illness is diagnosed in her family, she is blamed and regarded as a failure. Her grief is compounded by the stigma in the community resulting in her seeing herself as the ‘victim’ and more often than not she will seek medication for herself. It is inevitable that these circumstances will impede the recovery of the ill relative.

One of the strengths in many cultures is keeping the family intact. This can bring security to the sufferer but can also stress the other family members. By providing education and support to these families and working with them we can create an environment that can be conducive to recovery.

Respecting and understanding each other’s values will go a long way to breaking down stigma and help our people with mental illness live a better life.