On Thursday 20th November, I had the privilege of attending and speaking at the Memory, Wellbeing and Brain Health event hosted at Broadfield Community Centre in Crawley. Organised by Carers Support West Sussex, the event formed part of Carers Rights Day, bringing together carers, professionals, community teams, and people living with dementia for a day of learning, connection, and support.
Although I couldn’t stay for the full programme due to travelling to another Carers Rights Day engagement later that afternoon, I was grateful to take part in the early sessions and witness the energy and compassion that shaped the whole day.
Understanding the Hidden Struggles of Ethnic Minority Carers Caring for a loved one with mental illness can come with challenges, but for many ethnic minority carers, the journey is made more challenging by cultural stigma, language barriers, and a deep-rooted mistrust of formal health systems.
These carers often carry immense responsibility behind closed doors, with little recognition or support. Despite their dedication, many avoid reaching out to mental health services—not because they don’t care, but because past experiences have taught them to be cautious, even fearful.
What Is Institutional Distrust and Why Does It Matter? Institutional distrust refers to the lack of confidence in systems like healthcare, social care, or government services. For ethnic minority carers, this distrust is often grounded in real experiences of discrimination, cultural insensitivity, or the fear of losing control over a loved one’s care.
When services fail to understand or respect a carer’s background, the result is silence and isolation leaving carers to cope alone, without the help they may desperately need.
A Short Video Giving Voice to Unheard Stories To shed light on this important issue, I’ve created a short video presentation: “Institutional Distrust: Why Many Ethnic Carers Avoid Formal Services”
This video draws on the voices and lived experiences of unpaid carers, especially those from ethnic minority backgrounds. It explores the emotional weight they carry, the cultural barriers they navigate, and the urgent need for services to become more inclusive, respectful, and culturally aware.
Why Sharing These Stories Matters If we truly want to support carers from all backgrounds, we must first listen and really listen to what they’re telling us. By naming institutional distrust and understanding its roots, we can begin to rebuild trust and create spaces where carers feel safe to seek help.
Please watch and share the video, and let’s continue the conversation about what real support looks like for ethnic minority carers in mental health.
Help raise awareness for unpaid mental health carers during Carers Week 2025. Learn how to support and recognize their vital, often unseen role in society. To watch the video of this blog, click the video below
Recognizing the Unseen: The Vital Role of Unpaid Carers in Mental Health
Every year, Carers Week serves as a powerful reminder of the millions of individuals who dedicate their lives to supporting loved ones with health challenges often without recognition, compensation, or adequate support.
A Caring Mind 