Taboo stops south Asian people in UK seeking help for dementia, says charity

South Asian people living with dementia in the UK are being denied access to help and support because of stigma and taboo.

People from south Asian communities are more likely to develop dementia due to being at higher risk of other illnesses, such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

According to the Alzheimer's Society, they are less likely to come forward with a diagnosis due to stigma and taboo. Fear of embarrassment and misunderstanding in south Asian communities is preventing people with dementia from seeking help, the charity's chief executive told the Guardian.

Kate Lee said that getting a timely diagnosis is crucial for anyone with dementia symptoms.

People living without a dementia diagnosis can end up in crisis situations. Nine in 10 people with dementia have said that they benefited from being diagnosed, and that is a good sign.

Alzheimer's Society is launching a new campaign for Dementia Action Week to drive up diagnosis rates, and has produced dedicated resources and information for members of the Punjabi-speaking community. Anyone worried about their own or a relative's memory is being encouraged to seek support in getting a diagnosis.

It was about four years ago that she first had a feeling that something wasn't right with her. They would say to me, "You're going pagal."

They didn't mean it. It is a habit in our society to say that someone is losing their mind.

The former teacher had Alzheimer's disease. She says she can now explain the symptoms to her friends. It has allowed me to access medication to help me live well with dementia, raise awareness in my community, and feel understood.

Dr Kamel Hothi is an Alzheimer's Society ambassador and special adviser to the Queen's Commonwealth Trust.

She said that they didn't speak about it because they didn't see the signs sooner.