These Japanese mothers banded together through a support group to talk about mental illness
LOS ANGELES -- When Chiaki's son was diagnosed with schizophrenia, she longed for a support network to help her find care for her son. As a first-generation Japanese mother living in America, navigating the U.S. health care system in an unfamiliar language and culture left her feeling isolated.
When Chiaki tried to apply over the phone for Social Security benefits for her son, an employee hung up on her, rather than offering an interpreter when they hit a language barrier. When her son's case worker sent him to live at a sober living home, rather than one for adults with mental illnesses, she tried to point this out and was ignored by multiple Los Angeles County offices, who cited patient privacy laws. It was only after her son wasn't properly provided his medication and his fellow patients beat him that he was moved.
She then sought support from a National Alliance on Mental Illness support group in the South Bay, but the meetings she attended were all in English.
"I was frustrated and truly had such a difficult time with the language and culture in dealing with my situation," Chiaki said through a translator. "And I really wanted to be able to share my thoughts with other Japanese people in the Japanese language."
So in 2012, Chiaki formed a
