“We need actions, not words”: the perspectives of Russian-speaking immigrant families on recovery-oriented mental health care in Israel

This study explored how Russian-speaking immigrant families in Israel perceive recovery-oriented mental health rehabilitation services for their relatives with severe mental illness. Qualitative interviews with 18 families identified six key themes: lack of directive care, tension between personal autonomy and professional responsibility, family exclusion, privatization concerns, language barriers, and inadequate responses to treatment non-adherence. Findings highlight cultural gaps between Israel’s individualistic recovery-oriented services and the collectivistic, directive care expectations of Russian-speaking caregivers. Social workers can play a pivotal role in bridging these gaps by involving families in care planning and advocating for more proactive, accessible, and culturally safe services.