1 July 2001 David Suen

How do drugs and mental health affect the Chinese communities in the UK? This was the question that I wanted answered as I attended a training conference held by the Hungerford project. One of the aims of the Hungerford project is to respond the needs of drug-users from hard to reach groups such as rough sleepers, ethnic minorities and gay and lesbian communities.

The opening speech by Dr Yi Mien Koh, director of public health and health policy at Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster Health Authority emphasised the many obstacles faced by Chinese drug users and mental health sufferers, which include language barrier and stigma from the community. She highlighted the fact that drugs led to lifestyle changes, loss of friends and family, eventual self-isolation, mental health problems and crime.

She said, "we needed to tackle the cause of the problems first: By having a whole support network for the user and their families and a holistic approach in the treatment of the user". She ended by saying, "the community at present does not want to believe in mental illness and this could only change by increasing awareness and expelling common misconceptions".

Erica Fung and Terrino Chan from the Chinese Mental Health Association (CMHA) outlined their strategy, which involves having a community approach to mental health issues. These include the training of community groups, peer group initiatives and culture sensitive services. Chan commented that hospital closures had led to people turning to community centres for help and advice. He also outlined the importance of partnerships with other voluntary organisations, separate ethnic mental health projects and a befriending project.

Chan also identified groups within the Chinese community that were potential mental health suffers. These are the elderly due to isolation and loneliness, men working long hours in the catering trade, young Chinese who suffer from an identity crisis and asylum seekers who were disillusioned and isolated.

Thomas Chan from the Chinese in Britain Forum discussed the role of advocacy in accessing appropriate services. He defined this as, facilitating the user to health services and working with service provides in order to achieve this. He called for the empowerment of service users and the advocacy of culturally competent services. Chan also mentioned that the amended Race Relations Act and the Human Rights Act could be used to achieve the above.

Sook Mun Chow a substance misuse worker and Chinese drug outreach co-ordinator from the Hungerford drug project. Gave a presentation entitled "cut by both sides : the experience of the Chinese drug user". She highlighted the experiences of Chinese drug users that she had worked with. These include the inability of drug users to face their family, taboos, and the isolation of the whole family by the community. This made it hard to identify victims as they were often hidden from their community and society to a certain extent.

Homeless Chinese, many of which are also drug users also suffered from the same stigmas and labels as drug users. They were often hard to detect as they would use various methods to remain undetected, these include having a smart appearance and wondering the streets or sleeping on the circle line on the underground. Others would sleep in car parks and other places that were hidden from the public view. Homeless Chinese who could not speak English were often inappropriately excluded from hostels.

Chow commented that treatment services that are available in the Chinese community are often inappropriate, as users feared that the community would judge them and they would be exposed to the community. However once the concept of confidentiality was explained to them they would often be willing to be treated. Joint partnership with other statutory agency and Chinese community organisations are also needed to train their staff and support users.

The last presentation of the day was by Circle Steele from the Wai Yin Chinese women Society. Who discussed Chinese drug users in Manchester and found that all age groups were affected, even young children. In their research they found that mainstream services were often inadequate in the provision of drug services as the users faced many barriers, such as language, race inequality, lack of awareness and a lack of resources. Their research recommended the provision of culturally appropriate services, empowerment of the user, involvement of the community and having a multi-agency approach.

Have you had any experiences of mental illness or other community health issues in your family?

Have you felt adequately represented by your health authority?

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