‘Grief counselling for Asians must be culturally sensitive’
MOST FEEL THE HEALTH SERVICE IS ALIENATING AND EURO-CENTRIC, RESEARCH SHOWS
GRIEVING British Asians do not have access to adequate “culturally competent” counselling services, say experts.
They have called for more investment in improving bereavement therapies, citing the death of the Queen aged 96 on September 8 as a reminder to people mourning the loss of loved ones.
Research by the 1928 Institute thinktank, commissioned by NHS England, found that 98 per cent of people said the clinical approach to mental health was “alienating”. And 93 per cent felt that the health service is alienating as it is too euro-centric.
Co-founder of the 1928 Institute, Kiran Kaur Manku, told Eastern Eye, “The passing of the Queen is an emotive reminder of grief to many who have lost their loved ones, particularly strong family leaders.
“South Asians who experienced bereavement counselling said they had to explain their death rites to their therapist or felt their therapist was unable to help as they did not understand the cultural importance within familial relationships.
“The government urgently needs to invest resources in providing culturally competent mental health provisions that are accessible to everyone.”
Charity Marie Curie told Eastern Eye it is undertaking a piece of ongoing work with a range of communities in the UK to identify how to best support them.
A spokesperson added: “We are really keen at Marie Curie to get the word out there that we do have support available, and we are looking for ways to reach out to the Asian community, in particular, as at present we are not receiving any specific enquiries from the Asian community to our information and support services.
“However, through our outreach work we hope that will change.
“At Marie Curie, we know that the sad news of Her Majesty The Queen’s death will have evoked memories of people’s personal grief.”
Professor Dinesh Bhugra, professor of mental health and cultural diversity at King’s College London, also believes the pageantry and processions following the Queen’s death brought a reminder to people of their personal losses.
And he believes services can be culturally sensitive by working with local charities, community leaders and religious leaders.
Professor Bhugra told Eastern
“The healthcare and social services need to be culturally competent and culturally appropriate. A lack of awareness of grief related rituals can lead to over or under diagnosis but also mis-diagnosis.
“A key problem in psychiatric classifications is the notion of abnormal grief reaction. Among many Hindus there are rituals to be carried out up to 11 months after death and no joyous activities can take place. This can be seen as pathological if services are not aware.
“Similarly, in other religions, rituals have to be followed.”
Among the support services available are The BAMEStream Bereavement Support Service and the Bereavement Trust. The Marie Curie charity has an information and support Line (0800 090 2309 mariecurie.org.uk/ Support) and offers a live translation into over 200 languages.
Manmeet Kaur Chowdhry, an optimum performance expert, said that she has helped people overcome the grief of losing a loved one in a matter of hours by simply asking quality questions.
She said: “I am living proof having lost both my parents in the space of 15 months, one to Covid-19 and one to cancer, there is light at the end of the tunnel, when we go through the event most of us fear happening one day. “The stigma of seeking bereavement help is not only a taboo in south Asian communities, but most communities. Because we are
told allow
time to help you heal.
“I have one question for the readers – when you die, what would you like your loved ones to do after?
“Grieve your loss for days, weeks, years, or would you love for them to carry on living an inspired life without grief taking up time and space in their mind? “One hundred per cent of the time I ask this question, it is the latter that is chosen.”
Chowdhry added: “Most support services that are available, I perceive do not help you understand death itself, let alone help you see it from a cultural perspective. They do not help you to see the hidden order in the apparent chaos.
“When you can’t make sense of what is going on, it only makes talking about death even harder, resulting in prolonging effects of grief on your mental and physical health.”
Noshad Qayyum, from Leeds, experienced Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and depression after seeing his father die of a heart attack aged 64 on the former’s wedding day.
After undergoing therapy and practising regular mental health exercises, Qayyum developed men’s mental health
charity MenTell.
Qayyum, who is releasing a book about his ordeal through writing service StoryTerrace, said: “What my experience taught me is that we have to talk – especially men. Where suicide rates are at the highest they have ever been, we have few options left.
“Talking about my experiences with StoryTerrace helped me feel connected to myself – it helped me remember things I thought I had forgotten and allowed me to let go of shame. We are not alone.”
The Covid pandemic has also led to more families mourning loved ones since 2020. More than 172,000 people in England have died from coronavirus, government figures show.
The National Association of Funeral said Britain’s funeral directors arranged around 90,000 more funerals in 2020 than in recent years with 30 per cent more taking place in January and February 2021, compared to normal.
■ The Samaritans support service is available 24/7 if you need to talk. You can contact them for free by calling 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org or visit www.samaritans.org to find your nearest branch of the service.