Psychosis patients fight against social stigma

When Nimue Chan's mother found out eight years ago that her daughter had been diagnosed with psychosis, she became angry, threw away all the medication and told her to seek religious help to cure her illness instead.

'My mother insisted I only suffered from emotional disturbance which was normal for young people, and she said I did not need any medication. She even had a fierce row with my doctor, accusing him of poisoning me with the medicines,' Chan said.

Her mother then took her to church where members of the congregation claimed psychosis - a mental illness that interferes with a person's capacity to meet life's everyday demands - could be cured by praying and listening to the gospel.

'At home, my mother would always put on CDs playing hymns and gospels and turn them up loud. It was very frustrating and was no good for my condition,' she said.

Chan eventually ignored the advice from her mother and the church members and insisted on retaking her treatment. She moved out of the family home, and after graduating from university she found a job. However, she quit after a while to work as a part-time tutor so that she could have more time to see her doctors and to rest.

Psychiatry professor Eric Chen Yu-hai of the University of Hong Kong said Chan's case was not uncommon among psychosis patients. Unlike Chan who was forced to give up treatment, some patients stop the medication to avoid social stigma.