Cultural and religious teachings often influence beliefs about the origins and nature of mental illness, and shape attitudes towards the mentally ill. In addition to influencing whether mentally ill individuals experience social stigma, beliefs about mental illness can affect patients’ readiness and willingness to seek and adhere to treatment.
How does culture impact the perception of and treatment for mental health?
It can sometimes be difficult or time-consuming to find resources and treatment options that take into account specific cultures factors and needs. These are only a few ways culture can impact the perception of and treatment for mental health. Every culture and person is different and face a unique journey to recovery.
What are the cultural influences on drug treatment?
Perhaps one of the most important cultural influences has to do with the way a patient responds physically to medication. Some people from backgrounds other than Caucasian may not metabolize the medication correctly, causing serious complications in treatment.
Why is understanding individual and cultural beliefs about mental illness important?
(6) Therefore, understanding individual and cultural beliefs about mental illness is essential for the implementation of effective approaches to mental health care. Although each individual’s experience with mental illness is unique, the following studies offer a sample of cultural perspectives on mental illness.
Does culture affect how patients describe their symptoms to their clinicians?
However, this type of theory is generally confined to people who have the knowledge of and belief in modern medicines, and prefer to consult with psychiatrists or psychological practitioners for their treatment². Several studies have shown that culture affects how patients describe their symptoms to their clinicians.
How does culture influence mental illness and its diagnosis?
Cultures may influence and contribute to the causation of mental illnesses, mould symptoms, render certain sub-groups more vulnerable as well as modify beliefs and explanations of illnesses. This demonstrates that cultural beliefs and values represent a crucial factor in mental illness.
How does cultural affect mental health?
For instance, culture affects the way in which people describe their symptoms, such as whether they choose to describe emotional or physical symptoms. Essentially, it dictates whether people selectively present symptoms in a “culturally appropriate” way that won't reflect badly on them.
How does culture affect mental development?
There are three interrelated ways that culture contributes to cognitive development: social processes that support and guide learning, participation in everyday activities, and symbolic and material artifacts that support and extend thinking.
How culture affects treatment?
Culture plays a huge role in medical interactions. It influences how an individual might view an illness or treatment, for example, and affects how a physician should address an older patient. Culture may also affect the decision-making process.
What are examples of cultural influences?
Attitude and Behaviours Influenced by Ones Culture:Personality i.e. sense of self and society. ... Language i.e. communication.Dress.Food habits.Religion and religious faiths that is beliefs. ... Customs of marriages and religions and special social customs.More items...
How social and cultural attitudes towards mental health have changed?
One major change has been the shift in society's attitudes. People are becoming more accepting of mental health problems and more supportive of people with issues. They are more aware of common mental disorders such as depression and anxiety, and are more willing to talk to health professionals and seek treatment.
How cultural beliefs and social attitudes can affect the diagnosis of mental health concerns?
The experience and manifestation of mental illness are influenced by an individual's social and cultural background. It can determine how individuals communicate their symptoms, influence their understanding of their illness, and determine the coping strategies they adopt and the type of interventions they seek.
How does culture influence human behavior?
Our culture shapes the way we work and play, and it makes a difference in how we view ourselves and others. It affects our values—what we consider right and wrong. This is how the society we live in influences our choices. But our choices can also influence others and ultimately help shape our society.
How does cultural stigma affect mental health?
Studies show that Latinx (a gender neutral reference to a person of Latin American cultural or ethnic identity in the U.S.) families are also less likely to trust mental health providers compared to White families and are more likely to rely on social support from extended family and other community members.
How does culture influence health and illness?
The influence of culture on health is vast. It affects perceptions of health, illness and death, beliefs about causes of disease, approaches to health promotion, how illness and pain are experienced and expressed, where patients seek help, and the types of treatment patients prefer.
What cultures refuse medical treatment?
Jehovah's Witnesses and Christian Scientists are the two most common religious doctrines that may dictate treatment refusal, limitation, or preference for prayer.
How do cultural issues affect healthcare quality?
Importance of Cultural Competence in Health Care. Cultural competence significantly benefits healthcare organizations and patients alike. It results in more patient participation and engagement, fostering respect and improved understanding, which can lead to: Increased patient safety.
How does culture affect mental health?
Here are four ways culture can impact mental health: 1 Cultural stigma. Every culture has a different way of looking at mental health. For many, there is growing stigma around mental health, and mental health challenges are considered a weakness and something to hide. This can make it harder for those struggling to talk openly and ask for help. 2 Understanding symptoms. Culture can influence how people describe and feel about their symptoms. It can affect whether someone chooses to recognize and talk about only physical symptoms, only emotional symptoms or both. 3 Community Support. Cultural factors can determine how much support someone gets from their family and community when it comes to mental health. Because of existing stigma, minorities are sometimes left to find mental health treatment and support alone. 4 Resources. When looking for mental health treatment, you want to talk to someone who understands your specific experiences and concerns. It can sometimes be difficult or time-consuming to find resources and treatment options that take into account specific cultures factors and needs.
Why is it important to understand the role culture plays in mental health care?
It’s important that we understand the role culture plays in mental health care so we can support our loved ones and encourage treatment when it’s needed most.
How can we help the mental health of minorities?
You can help address the mental health of minorities by understanding the role culture plays in mental health and by becoming trained to help those around you . Mental Health First Aid gives people the skills to identify signs of mental health and substance use challenges and action steps to take to help them get treatment.
Why are minorities left out of mental health?
Because of existing stigma, minorities are sometimes left to find mental health treatment and support alone. Resources. When looking for mental health treatment, you want to talk to someone who understands your specific experiences and concerns.
Do minorities get mental health care?
According to research published by The Commonwealth Fund, minorities in the United States are less likely to get mental health treatment or will wait until symptoms are severe before looking. In fact, only 66 percent of minority adults have a regular health care provider compared to 80 percent of white adults.
Is mental health a weakness?
Every culture has a different way of looking at mental health. For many, there is growing stigma around mental health, and mental health challenges are considered a weakness and something to hide. This can make it harder for those struggling to talk openly and ask for help. Understanding symptoms.
How does cultural influence affect mental health?
This model suggests that various cultural influences contribute to the etiology and development of mental illness and affect how one personally defines his symptoms and illness. For example, cultural differences may contribute to the prevalence of mental disorders, influence beliefs about the causes of mental illness and subsequently impacts treatments and interventions. Even prior to engaging in mental health care, preferences are developed regarding the type and role of the health care clinician or alternative provider addressing mental health issues. Racial/ethnic minorities may have treatment preferences that shape the manner in which they seek help.
What is the belief that mental illness is borne out of a disruption in the family?
The belief that mental illness is borne out of a disruption in the family is a theme that cuts across racial/ethnic lines for the three racial/ethnic minority groups in this study. For the Asian-Americans and the Latinos, however, the narrative of family disruption or loss of family may have its roots in migration.
What is the CIMH model?
The current study applies the CIMH model to identify cultural attitudes toward healthcare and mental illness among various racial/ethnic minority older adults with common mental health problems including depression, anxiety disorders, or at-risk alcohol use. Specifically, this study examines to what extent race/ethnicity is associated with differences in: (1) beliefs on the cause of mental illness; (2) preferences for type of treatment; and (3) provider characteristics. It is hypothesized that African-Americans, Asian-Americans, and Latinos will have differing beliefs regarding the causes of mental illness when compared to Non-Latino Whites. Also, race/ethnicity will be associated with determining who makes healthcare decisions, treatment preferences, and preferred characteristics of healthcare providers.
What causes mental health problems?
Nobody knows for sure what causes mental health problems such as depression, but people have different ideas about what the causes might be. What do you think causes depression?
What are culturally associated beliefs?
Culturally associated health beliefs may provide additional insight as to why these disparities exist as well as provide information on how to provide culturally appropriate services to racial/ethnic minority older adults. Different cultural beliefs about mental illness may influence the type of treatment that is sought and how mental illness is addressed and managed. The purpose of this study is to identify cultural beliefs about the causes of mental illness and treatment preferences, among four different racial/ethnic groups.
Do Latinos seek treatment?
Latinos who are seeking treatment may be more willing to use other forms of treatment. Furthermore, the study participants consist of older primary care patients who have consented to be in a research study in which they are randomized to integrated mental health treatment or referral to specialty mental health care.
What are the factors that influence mental health?
Providing accessible, effective mental health care to Americans of all cultures requires understanding the culture-related factors that influence mental health, such as: Cultural Stigmas: Every culture has a different way of looking at mental health and, for many, there is a stigma. Some cultures see mental health challenges as a sign of weakness;
Why is culture important?
Culture goes deeper than that backdrop; the specific beliefs ingrained in us at home along with society’s culture play an important role in shaping our beliefs, norms, values and perceptions of certain ideas and behaviors.
How many minorities have a mental health provider?
Unfortunately, only 66% of minorities have a regular health provider, compared to 80% of white adults.
How does cultural taboos affect people?
Reluctance to Discuss Symptoms: Cultural taboos also can influence a person’s ability to describe personal symptoms and concerns to family and friends who may be able to direct them to professional help. Forbidding discussion of emotional concerns and possible mental illness can have a profound impact on whether a person chooses to acknowledge physical and emotional symptoms and seek professional help.
What is the first step in avoiding harmful misunderstandings, removing obstacles and encouraging people of all cultures to access?
Understanding the societal and cultural influences at play in mental health care is the first step in avoiding harmful misunderstandings, removing obstacles and encouraging people of all cultures to access the care they need. The National Council for Behavioral Health.
Why is it important to have a supportive family and caring community?
For some minorities, it can be challenging to find resources that address their particular cultural factors and needs, which is why open communication with a supportive family and caring community are so important.
How does culture affect mental health?
Culture not only influences the motivationto seek help but also impacts how mental illness is experienced. Symptoms are sometimes expressed differently and mental health professionals may not be able to decipher the symptoms rooted in the brain but localized in other parts of the body, such as headaches and stomach complaints.
Is social support more accessible in some cultures?
Therefore, social structures that provide social support may be more accessible in some cultures more than others, especially within the context of the degree of individual autonomy that is a hallmark in some cultures more than others. Furthermore, in some cultures, being 'different' (as expressed in 'unusual' behaviors) is not a cause ...
Can mental illness be defined without culture?
mental illness cannot be define without culture. Submitted by C.D. on April 6, 2018 - 12:24am. I agree with how you said that culture can influence how people see mental illness and how across many different cultures there are different form of mental illnesses.
Is being 'different' a mental illness?
Furthermore, in some cultures, being 'different' (as expressed in 'unusual' behaviors) is not a cause for mental health assessment or application of a diagnosis. Instead of being 'pathological', difference in thought/behavioral patterns may be perceived as eccentricity and instead of being marginalized, the 'eccentric' may have a certain social ...
Can mental health professionals decipher symptoms?
Symptoms are sometimes expressed differently and mental health professionals may not be able to decipher the symptoms rooted in the brain but localized in other parts of the body, such as headaches and stomach complaints. article continues after advertisement.
How does culture affect mental health?
Attitudes toward mental illness vary among individuals, families, ethnicities, cultures, and countries. Cultural and religious teachings often influence beliefs about the origins and nature of mental illness, and shape attitudes towards the mentally ill. In addition to influencing whether mentally ill individuals experience social stigma, beliefs about mental illness can affect patients’ readiness and willingness to seek and adhere to treatment. (6) Therefore, understanding individual and cultural beliefs about mental illness is essential for the implementation of effective approaches to mental health care. Although each individual’s experience with mental illness is unique, the following studies offer a sample of cultural perspectives on mental illness.
Why should concepts and treatments for depression take into account diverse perspectives on mental illness?
The authors report that “conceptualizations and treatments” for depression should take into account diverse perspectives on mental illness in order to maximize the effectiveness of mental health care delivery programs. (14)
What is stigma in mental health?
Mental illness stigma is defined as the “devaluing, disgracing, and disfavoring by the general public of individuals with mental illnesses”. (1) Stigma often leads to discrimination, or the inequitable treatment of individuals and the denial of the “rights and responsibilities that accompany full citizenship”.
Does genetic attribution affect mental health?
Genetic attribution of mental illness significantly reduced unwillingness to marry and reproduce among Chinese Americans, but it increased the same measures among European Americans, supporting previous findings of cultural variations in patterns of mental illness stigmatization. (8)
How does culture affect mental health?
Culture significantly impacts various aspects of mental health including the perception of health and illness, treatment-seeking behaviour and coping styles.
How does culture affect treatment seeking?
Culture is also a strong determining factor in motivating or demotivating treatment-seeking behaviour. It can determine whether someone seeks support from families and communities, and how and where they seek help. The implications could be positive or negative and in some cases severe where it leads to suicide as they were not offered appropriate treatment and support.
What is the theory of mental illness?
This concept is still prevalent in modern society. Srivastava mentioned three different theories about the etiology of mental illness: supernatural theory; shock theory and biochemical theory . The supernatural theory suggests that mental illness is due to the possession of evil spirits that change the psychology of a person.
What is mental health in the UK?
Mental health care in the UK is built on Western medicine and research, which places emphasis on empirical evidence. Cultural, psychological, social, genetic and biological factors all play their part. This medical model views mental illness as underlined by physiological or biological causes that can be treated through medical means¹. However, this type of theory is generally confined to people who have the knowledge of and belief in modern medicines, and prefer to consult with psychiatrists or psychological practitioners for their treatment².
How does culture affect people?
Culture influences how people cope with everyday problems and more severe afflictions. For example, Africans are more likely to manage adversities on their own⁵. They are also more inclined to rely more on spirituality to help them cope with mental illness and everyday difficulties.⁶
What are some examples of cultural influences?
Ethnicity, race, and religious and family values are a few examples of influences that form the basis of culture. The experience and manifestation of mental illness are influenced by an individual’s social and cultural background.
Why is it important to not group all individuals from a racial, ethnic or cultural group together?
This is because factors such as age, income, health status, and social class can influence our understanding of different cultures. Mental health care in the UK is built on Western medicine and research, which places emphasis on empirical ...
What are the cultural influences of medicine?
Perhaps one of the most important cultural influences has to do with the way a patient responds physically to medication. Some people from backgrounds other than Caucasian may not metabolize the medication correctly, causing serious complications in treatment. Caucasian patients generally tend to handle a wider variety of medications than those of other cultures do.
Why is culture important in healthcare?
Culture has a significant impact on both diagnoses and treatment options, primarily because of different social beliefs , but also because of biological factors. In order to improve the care of patients in general, health care providers should be aware of ...
Why do women request less invasive treatments?
Women, for example, may request less invasive treatments to make them more comfortable. Likewise, gender roles within relationships can often play a role in hindering treatment. One partner in the relationship may be dominant and believe it’s his/her job to make all of the decisions. 5.
Why do people retain certain beliefs?
Everyone retains certain beliefs as a result of family and community influences, especially in other countries. For example, Asians and Pacific Islanders rely heavily on their extended family. Oftentimes, the honor and interests of the family are more important than the interests of the individual. Understanding situations like this when administering health care can be very helpful in providing proper treatment.
Do Caucasian patients handle medications?
Caucasian patients generally tend to handle a wider variety of medications than those of other cultures do. Broaching these subjects with your patients may be uncomfortable to begin with, but it may be the thing that saves your patient’s life and your career.