Agnes - Interview 29
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Agnes has been caring for her daughter, who has OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) and depression, for four years.
Originally from Hong Kong, Agnes has lived in London for many years. She became a carer at age 45. Ethnic background: Chinese.
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English translation can be found below
Originally from Hong Kong, Agnes is 50 years old and lives in London. Agnes has been a carer for her daughter Lily for 4 years.
When searching on the internet to understand how she was feeling, Lily discovered she was experiencing symptoms of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). When Lily went to the doctor she was diagnosed with depression, and prescribed anti-depressants. Since Lily did not find the medicine helpful to her condition, she chose not to have them. Agnes feels that the care given to her daughter in hospital and by social services has not been good enough. Agnes believes that the hospital reports on her daughter's situation were written without properly talking to Lily. She came to feel that unless something dramatic happened - like a suicide attempt - her daughter's condition was not taken seriously by the services. She suspects that the pressure put on Lily by the services, for example to find independent accommodation, may have contributed to the suicide attempts she eventually did make.
Agnes does not feel that she as Lily's carer has been treated with respect by hospital staff. On several occasions she reported being asked to leave without being given an adequate explanation. On one occasion in 2006 Agnes and the hospital staff got into conflict over Agnes' role. Agnes said she wanted to give her daughter some vitamins as she was not eating very well. Agnes alleges that the hospital staff refused this request and further accused her of wanting to assist Lily with another suicide attempt. Subsequently, Agnes reported not being allowed to close the door to Lily's room and be left alone with her. Agnes found the idea that hospital staff might think she would hurt her own daughter very upsetting and hurtful. She believes Lily's suicide attempt should be the hospital's responsibility. Agnes has made a formal complaint about her experiences. Her complaint was yet to be resolved at the time of the interview.
Agnes feels that her voice as a carer is not listened to, and since English is not her first language, she also finds that many carer's services can't give her the specific help she needs. She believes better trained mental heath professionals are needed, as well as more independent, culturally appropriate services for people with mental health problems and their carers.