Crucial individuals in the help-seeking pathway of chinese caregivers of relatives with early psychosis in Hong Kong

Abstract

This study attempted to identify the crucial individuals in the help-seeking pathways of Chinese caregivers of relatives suffering from early psychosis in Hong Kong. In-depth interviews with 58 caregivers were conducted. The findings suggest that although the family caregivers usually initiated the help-seeking process, informal network members were instrumental in confirming the presence of mental illness and encouraged the caregivers to seek external help. School social workers acted as a bridge between the informal and formal networks and referred the adolescents for psychiatric consultations. However, it was found that some of the ill relatives did not recognize the severity of their mental health problems, which posed a major obstacle to help seeking. Contrary to the claims in overseas literature, the informal network members' accurate recognition of mental illness quickened the help-seeking process. Individual, cultural, and social institutional factors were identified and used to further explain these characteristics of help seeking. Implications for social work practice are highlighted. © 2007 National Allocation of Social Workers.