A Cross Cultural Perspective on Mental Health In the world it is estimated that there is more than 450 million people who have a mental health problem as of 2001 (World Health Organization, 2001). With mental health being an issue that happens in ever culture, it is expected that every culture has a different perspective on mental health as well as different ways to treat different mental illnesses. From African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, and American Indians, they all have their own beliefs on mental health and different views on it.
In America one of the largest groups and fastest growing population is that Latino population. Latinos are also known as a high-risk population for anxiety, depression, and substance abuse, according …show more content…
This population is the Asian American population. The first factor that would influence the Asian population would be having a language barrier that would cause any confusion. Even though this may seem obvious, it is a major problem with immigrant Asian Americans. Another issue that is prominent in the Asian culture is religious beliefs and spirituality. This is because, besides Christianity or Muslim, Buddhism, Taoism, Animism and Confucianism (NCBI, 2002). These religions cause issues because: Buddhism focuses on spiritual understand of the disease: Confucianism stresses a strong respect for authority, piety, justice, fidelity, and self-development: Taoism is based off of the yin and yang theory: Animism is the belief that humans, animals, and inanimate objects possess souls and spirits. Along with religion, the basic traditional system causes an issue with getting proper care for those with mental health issues in the Asian culture. The traditional beliefs of mental health is that the individual has a lack of harmony of his emotions, or it could be caused by evil spirits. Another issue causing belief is, the Buddhist belief that any problems in their current life come from transgressions committed in their past lives (NCBI, 2002). The Asian culture also places a huge focus on their family being a unit, with each person having their own defined role and …show more content…
American Indians face the most challenges out of all of the different cultures even though being only 1.5% of the American population. The rate of Natives being in poverty and/or unemployed is 2.5 times higher than any other culture (psychiatry.org). On top of that, Natives are twice as likely to be victims of violent crimes. This on top of a long history of forced relocations, cultural assimilation, broken treaties, and many more social, political and economic injustices still affect Native communities and populations (psychiatry.org). Natives have the most mental disorders per population than
In America one of the largest groups and fastest growing population is that Latino population. Latinos are also known as a high-risk population for anxiety, depression, and substance abuse, according …show more content…
This population is the Asian American population. The first factor that would influence the Asian population would be having a language barrier that would cause any confusion. Even though this may seem obvious, it is a major problem with immigrant Asian Americans. Another issue that is prominent in the Asian culture is religious beliefs and spirituality. This is because, besides Christianity or Muslim, Buddhism, Taoism, Animism and Confucianism (NCBI, 2002). These religions cause issues because: Buddhism focuses on spiritual understand of the disease: Confucianism stresses a strong respect for authority, piety, justice, fidelity, and self-development: Taoism is based off of the yin and yang theory: Animism is the belief that humans, animals, and inanimate objects possess souls and spirits. Along with religion, the basic traditional system causes an issue with getting proper care for those with mental health issues in the Asian culture. The traditional beliefs of mental health is that the individual has a lack of harmony of his emotions, or it could be caused by evil spirits. Another issue causing belief is, the Buddhist belief that any problems in their current life come from transgressions committed in their past lives (NCBI, 2002). The Asian culture also places a huge focus on their family being a unit, with each person having their own defined role and …show more content…
American Indians face the most challenges out of all of the different cultures even though being only 1.5% of the American population. The rate of Natives being in poverty and/or unemployed is 2.5 times higher than any other culture (psychiatry.org). On top of that, Natives are twice as likely to be victims of violent crimes. This on top of a long history of forced relocations, cultural assimilation, broken treaties, and many more social, political and economic injustices still affect Native communities and populations (psychiatry.org). Natives have the most mental disorders per population than