It was not acceptable even to talk about mental illness. More recently, educational programs conducted throughout the islands are teaching people about mental health problems and are helping to change attitudes. All people have access to medical treatment in Samoa, which includes public health nurse visits to villages at no cost. Patients have no papers to fill out. Relatives are allowed to be with the patient at all times.
Doctors give direct answers to questions from patients.
The contrast with medical services in the United States makes the U.S. medical system unsatisfactory and hard to understand. Samoans believe health care should be more affordable or insurance more available. Another limitation Samoan people find in the Western approach is the absence of prayer. Samoan people always believe in prayers as a final solution to a health problem. Language Older Samoans speak limited English.