The Impact Of Culture On Mental Health Essay

“Health is influenced by culture and beliefs” (NRS-429V, 2011, p. 1). In order for the nurse to properly care for the patient, she must know and understand the patient’s culture. “Cultural care is a comprehensive model that includes the assessment of a client’s cultural needs, beliefs, and health care practices” (NRS-429V, 2011, p. 1). It is not enough to just know where the patient lives or where he came from. The nurse must embrace the concept of cultural competence and cultural awareness. This requires not only the awareness of the cultural beliefs and values of their patients, but also

Cultural competency aids in closing the “disparities gap” in health care. ("OMH," 2012, para. 2) In doing so, health professionals and their clients are better able to discuss concerns without cultural differences getting in the way of effective communication and problem solving. Being respectful of and sensitive to the client’s health beliefs, culture, values, and diverse needs can bring positive outcomes within treatment and patient care. After all, is it not the main job of the health care provider to ensure patient trust? Open forms of communication when dealing with client issues can only be provided if the patient is comfortable with his provider and believes his

Engaging into the importance of multicultural competence, awareness of such competency has become a significant necessity in the area of mental health, and various fields of psychology (Hayes, 2008). It is essential for a counselor to be multicultural competent in order to develop a therapeutic alliance with a client, while understanding their cultural identity. Therefore, culturally competent knowledge, attitudes, and skills of diverse culture, is necessary, in proper treatment and diagnosis. Nonetheless, the complexity of cultural diversity can contribute to challenges in assessment, diagnosis and or treatment. It is further understood; by understanding one’s social history, psychosocial history, presenting problems, along with other pertinent information regarding a cultural responsiveness in a diagnosis, and how it would be beneficial to individuals of various social, ethnic, and other minority groups in order to make a treatment plan based on the findings of a cultural assessment (Sue & Sue, 2013). Nonetheless, cultural influences, often neglected, are needed to incorporate the challenges cultural groups face when seeking treatment. Therefore, I have found it applicable to use “ADDRESSING,” framework in therapy as a resource for developing cultural and relevant assessments in addition to the onset symptoms presented in the client in the case study of Mrs. Hudson. The use of “ADDRESSING” acronym is designed to obtain age, developmental and physical disabilities

Cultural competency is critical in psychology practice. In the United States, the groups, which considered as cultural and ethnic minorities, are growing in the population (APA, 2003). Culture often influences the content and quality of people’s experience, perception, and response. Thus, it is important for psychologists to be aware of cultural influences on client’s presenting experience(s) (Gardiner & Kosmitzki, 2010). Without a regard for cultural influence, there is a significant risk for the psychologist to misunderstand, misinterpret, and misguide his or her client. Such misunderstanding, misinterpretation, and misguidance are not only unhelpful but can be detrimental for the client (Corey, Corey, & Callanan, 2011; Pope, & Vasquez, 2011).

In all psychological and biological assessment, the use of culturally attuned assessments is top priority. “We may define culturally informed psychological assessment as an approach to evaluation that is keenly perceptive of and responsive to issues of acculturation, values, identity, worldview, language, and other culture-related variables as they may impact the evaluation process or the interpretation of resulting data” (Cohen, Swerdlik, & Sturman, 2013). Through this process key individuals contribute to the understanding of the client including family, friends, and coworkers input and information. Through the use of translators and other cultural affiliates clinicians are able to demonstrate a clearer understanding, a culturally applicable assessment, and ensure that the client understands the ins and outs of the assessment process. One important aspect of the implementation of the “one size fits all approach” to culturally attuned treatment and care in our mental health facilities (Cohen, Swerdlik, & Sturman, 2013). Assessment and clinical evaluations should not be a cookie cutter experience. The amount of patients that are

I consider mental health assessment to be a collaborative process, and I am trained in a variety of assessment instruments that will address your unique needs and provide us with a holistic picture of your experience (ACA, 2014, § E.2 Competence to Use and Interpret Assessment Instruments; Corey, et al., 2015, pp. 392). Together, we will look carefully at the assessment results and co-create a diagnosis that takes into account your strengths, resources, cultural orientation, family background, and social context, as well as your individual concerns (ACA, 2014, § E.5. Diagnosis of Mental Disorders; ACA, 2014, § E.8. Multicultural Issues and Diversity in Assessment; Corey, et al., 2015, p. 385). This assessment process will allow us to formulate a treatment plan uniquely designed to meet your individual needs, and we will continue to use tools throughout the course of therapy to evaluate the progress of our work together (Corey, et al., 2015, p. 378-379). I strive to achieve cultural sensitivity in my practice and I believe that you are the final expert in your own life; therefore, I invite your active involvement in the assessment

A systematic review of the literature. Health Services Research, 42(2), 727-754. doi:10.1111/j.1475-6773.2006.00629.x Kirmayer, L. J. (2012). Rethinking cultural competence. Transcultural Psychiatry, 49(2), 149-164.

While gender and ethnicity may be the more apparent cultural features other things are important also, which include sexual orientation, spiritual or religious practices, political aspects, and general philosophy of life are all cultural elements that need to be incorporated into interventions and treatment options” (Cummins et al., 2012, p.237). In addition, it is important for the social worker to have cultural knowledge because it is necessary for selecting the appropriate intervention and treatment methods for that client. Furthermore, the appropriate multidimensional assessment provides the social worker with the internal culture of the client such as cognitive abilities or limitations, emotional health, and emotional responses and

Cultural competence is a widely used term in the social work field that calls mental health practitioners to acknowledge client individuality. This entails an intentional recognition and response to cultural concerns of each individual, including their histories, traditions, beliefs, and value systems (United States, 1999). Despite this call to acknowledge these important differences, the mental health field has largely failed to provide culturally competent care. In particular, the U.S. mental health system is not well equipped to meet the diverse needs of minority ethnic and racial groups (United States, 1999). It is noted that a wide variety of barriers exist to deter members of these particular groups from seeking mental health care.

Duffey, T., & Somody, C. (2011). The Role of Relational-Cultural Theory in Mental Health Counseling. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 33(3), 223-242. Retrieved August 13, 2015, from Proquest Central.

All cultures have differnet beliefs about mental health and how they precieve what causes the disorders, how it can be cured or treated, and who should be involved in the process. Western coutries such as the United States, which see mental disorders as a result of natural scientific phenomena, advocate medical treatments that combat neurological imbalance and/or the use technology to diagnose and treat mental health disorders. Other countries believe that mental illness is the result of supernatural phenomena and promote prayer or other spiritual interventions that counter the presumed disfavor of powerful forces. Some cultures might ignore seeking professional medical help because they believe

In any case, providing competent care to a patient of a different culture must first start with an understanding of the culture itself (Potter & Perry, 2011). Culture is

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

After diagnosis, cultured individuals may struggle to accept the idea of treatment that is familiar within western society, as, in some cases, illness is perceived as a course of nature rather than something that needs to be “cured” through treatment, medicines and technology. Cultural competence in healthcare has emerged partially as a strategy to address racial and ethnic disparities that may lead to health inequalities. Betancourt, Green and Carrillo (2002) determine that cultural competence in healthcare shows the ability for the system to provide care to patients with diverse values, beliefs, and behaviours, including meeting patients’ social and cultural needs. (Maier-Lorentz, M., Red Orbit, May 2008).

Having considered the importance of training and literature, it is also reasonable to look at the significance of culture, gender and diversity in working with clients. For example, research has asserted that the intersections of racial, ethnic, gender, sexual, socioeconomic, age, religious, spiritual, and disability identities have important influences on mental health outcomes and health disparities (Conron, Mimiaga, & Landers, 2010; Hankivsky et al., 2010; Institute of Medicine, 2011). Just like cultural differences can affect the therapeutic relationship – and therefore the therapeutic process – both directly and indirectly. Yet, different cultural perspectives on health and healing, human relationships, and world views can result in the therapist and patient ‘talking past’ one another as there is no shared basis for communication.