Mental Health Cultural Analysis

Research indicates that immigrant groups are likely to develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PSTD) at varying degrees irrespective of whether they are voluntary migrants or refugees. However, refugees are known to suffer higher rates of mental health disorders ranging from PSTD to depression (Rasmussen et al., 2012). It is also known that refugees are likely to have more pre-migration risk for trauma than voluntary immigrants. Even though most refugees flee their home countries to reduce the risk of distress, research indicates that the well-being of such immigrants deteriorates with increasing time spent in the host countries

677). However, pull factors include “better chances for social and economic advancement, religious and political freedom, and greater opportunities for fulfillment in all aspects of life” (p. 678). Immigrant children and youth are at high risk for mental health problems (Cardoso & Dettlaff, 2010)). Conditions like depression, post-traumatic stress disorders and anxiety disorders are common in immigrant children and youth living in the United States (2010).

THE IMPACT OF CULTURE ON MENTAL HEALTH AND HOW THIS CAN AFFECT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEN THE HEALTH CARE PROVIDER AND THE CLIENT

The existing literature by McClure (2010), Hatzenbuehler (2015), Castañeda (2015), Messias (2014), and colleagues establish that immigration and immigration policy create stressful environments for immigrants that can affect health. To reiterate this point, Messias and colleagues mention, “there are physical and emotional costs to immigrants living under prolonged stress in conditions of poverty and victimization and lacking access to health care and other social services (2014, p. 88). In addition to the literature on immigration, there are several case studies that examine immigrant children’s mental health, which will be enumerated in this section of the literature review.

It has been hypothesized that social adjustment and the prevalence of mental illness in migrants may be influenced by the duration of the relocation, the similarity or dissimilarity between the culture of origin and the culture of settlement, language and social support systems, acceptance by the majority culture, access and acceptance by the expatriate community, employment, and housing. (Bhugra and Becker, pars. 7). The United States of America has

In 2012, Canada received approximately 23,000 refugees and their families (Statistics Canada, 2012). Canada welcomes an ethno cultural diversity and follows the international mandate to ensure safety, stability and accessibility to health services for refugees. The refugees come from different countries, which are socioeconomically unstable, and they are in search of stability and a better destiny. Canada is recognized as one of the most developed countries in the world, it is undeniable that the protection of refugees will be provided. The Ottawa Newcomer Clinic, located in Ottawa, is one of the agencies that welcomes newcomer refugees. This clinic plays an essential role in the reintegration of refugees in their new environment and provides preventive healthcare services. To improve its services, the team members of the clinic are committed to promoting mental health in order to undertake a holistic approach in the care of refugee youths. Consequently, it is important to explore the obstacles facing this particular population using the Population Health model in order to identify startegies for mental health promotion programs that aims to optimize the health status of refugee youths. This brings us to review the importance of mental health among refugees and concepts involved, such as importance of the role of health care providers who have direct contact with the target population as well as mental health promotion.

There have been correlations on the health of refugee arrivals and other migrants from developing countries. Having transitioned from camps for eighteen months, the family is at risk of developing or already having infectious diseases. The youngest child in the family being born on camp and in such harsh conditions, it is not rare that the child could have been in contact with a communicable disease. As a result of the social exclusion the family is facing, they are unable to be provided with efficient use of the heath resources that are available to other members of the community. Due to the stressful process of language and social difficulties, research suggests that whilst many migrants arrive in Australia with good health, their mental health tends to deteriorate after the first twelve months in the country (Anikeeva, Peng, Hiller, Roder & Han 2010). In Australia, approximately 93% of the population born overseas have been recorded as suicide deaths (Australia Bureau of Statistics (2012). Like any other refugee family, the Hakimi family will also have to overcome the health challenges they will face whilst settling into a new

Mental health is a person’s emotional and physiological well-being; some immigrants come to the country hoping for an easier and happier life, however, this is not always the case. As stated previously in lecture, assimilating to a new language, new food, and different cultural norms can be mentally draining. Experiences like exposure to war, death of loved ones, violence, oppression, and torture will likely make one mentally unstable and further complicates the resettlement process. The process of assimilating into a new cultural is mentally taxing to the soul, you are having to throw away all that you know and create a facade in order to be accepted. In my opinion, refugees and immigrants display poor mental health on arrival due to a combination

Culture has a great effect on attitudes toward therapy. According to the National Institution of Mental Health each individual or groups of people bring a variation of beliefs to the therapeutic setting such as communicating what issues to report, types of coping styles, social support, and cultural stigma towards mental health. More often it is culture that bears on whether or not an individual will seek help. For example there is a widespread tendency to stigmatize mental illness in Asian countries. People with mental illness are considered dangerous and create social distance and

Mental health illnesses affect everyone. It is highly prevalent affecting people of all ages, gender, cultures, and social groups. Attitudes towards mental health illnesses vary among individuals and often are highly influenced by the various cultures that the individuals identify with. Culture as a social concept can be defined as a set of norms, values, behaviours, and beliefs that are common and shared amongst a group of individuals (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1999). Culture can be applicable to groups like Asians and Americans but also to groups of shared norms, beliefs, and values established within professions such as the culture of patients and practitioners. Culture provides these groups with structure and context to understanding their society and the world as a whole. Culture influence a wide range of aspects of mental health, including how mental health is perceived by the patient, how the patient will experience mental health stigma, and how they cope with symptoms of mental health illness. Additionally, these cultural influences impact the relationship between the patient and the practitioner in a number of ways.

While in the lesson we learn about the cost of the service making a barrier for lower-income or SES low socioeconomic status for many people, who are majority non-Caucasian, there are other barriers to various cultures receiving therapeutic services. For some, the idea that someone within the family would seek psychological help shows a sign of weakness.

The field of healthcare that I would choose would be mental health. I have always wanted to work in this field and have a special place in my heart for those suffering from mental illnesses such as depression. Mental illnesses come with a plethora of challenges that I would have to deal with. For instance, those with mental illnesses face stigma and are looked down at in society. The very label of being mentally ill makes it difficult to empower clients. The sociocultural perspective “suggests that labeling people as mentally ill typecasts them and limits their ability to obtain other roles” (DuBois & Miley, 2014, p. 335). To further compound this debilitating label, those who are mentally ill do not simply have one issue. Interpersonal relationships,

“Culture comprises of shared beliefs values, and practices that guide a group’s members in patterned ways of thinking and acting. Culture can also be viewed as a blueprint for guiding actions that impact care, health, and well-being” (Leininger & McFarland, 2006). “Culture is more than ethnicity and social norms; it includes religious, geographic, socio-economic, occupational, ability-or disability-related, and sexual orientation-related beliefs and behaviors. Each group has cultural beliefs, values, and practices that guide its members in ways of thinking and acting. Cultural norms help members of the group make sense of the world around them and make decisions about appropriate ways to relate and behave. Because

Migration is a time of stress and while migrants are adjusting to new and unfamiliar environments their vulnerability to stress is heightened. In the Shanghai study examined this week, financial and employment difficulties caused the greatest stress to migrant workers. Many migrants do not seek help for stress or the mental health issues it can cause for various reasons, such as not being able to recognize that they are suffering from stress, in the first place. Migrant workers are also more likely to seek assistance for physical health issues before they seek assistance for mental health issues. This is why support from primary care clinics to address mental health while they serve the population for physical health issues is vital. Many

The UNHCR refugee interpreter training module refers to interpreters as “cultural mediators who bridge the gap created by cultural differences between two people who would not be able to understand each other if what they say was literally translated” (18). Many of the therapists involved in Miller et al.’s study acknowledged that they are likely to rely on interpreters as cultural consultants who help them understand the cultural context of the clients’ experiences (30). The Refugee Health Technical Assistance Center recommends that healthcare professionals “encourage the interpreter to ask questions and to alert [them] about potential cultural misunderstandings that may come up” (“Best Practices for Communicating Through an Interpreter). They are also urged to respect an interpreter’s judgment that a particular question is culturally inappropriate. Sometimes the interpreter needs to stop interpreting and elaborate briefly on the topic being discussed (Benhamida 18). Björn’s analysis of several mental health cases suggests that the interpreter may be more likely to act as an advocate in cases that involve refugee children and adolescents, especially if their parents are not present