Cultural Issues Related to Mental Health Care Chapter 2

Culture A way of life for people who identify or associate with one another on the basis of some common purpose. Totality of learned, socially transmitted beliefs, values, and behaviors that emerge from its members interpersonal experiences.

Cultural Terms Acculturation Segregation Integration Prejudice Discrimination Stereotyping

Stigmatization Process of assigning negative characteristics and identify to one person or group Causing that person or group to feel unaccepted, devalued, ostracized, and isolated

Culture and Religion Western societies Judeo-Christian thinking predominate Eastern societies Islam Hinduism Buddhism See table 2.1

Cultural Groups and Beliefs About Mental Illnesses Cultural groups have different histories related to mental illnesses. Traditional beliefs associated with mental illnesses evoke shame, social ostracism, and stigma. In some communities, language is a barrier for receiving mental health services.

Different Cultural Beliefs African Americans: Significantly lower mental health and poorer self-perceived health Latino Americans: Late in Seeking Mental Health Services Asian Americans, Polynesians,Pacific Islanders: Asians deny Mental Illness ````````(neurasthenia) Native Americans: Some view Mental Ilness as supernatural possession or being out of balance with nature

Socioeconomic Influences in Mental Health Care Poverty Geographic location Changing family structure role change mobility and relocation unmarried couple single-parent families stepfamilies childless families same-gender families

Stigma and Mental Illness Patients with mental illness have always been victims of stigma. U.S. Surgeon General’s Report (1999) highlights the negative attitude that continues to exist in the U.S. Two-thirds of people do not seek treatment.

National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) National organization with the mission to eradicate mental illness and improve the quality of life for patients. Works toward helping public understand that mental illnesses are no-fault, biologically based, treatable, and eventually curable. NAMI has several local chapter with family support groups.