Cultural Assessments

Culture could negatively impact and become a barrier to mental health services especially if one is in the minority group of the ADDRESSING framework laid out by Hayes (2008a), especially low socioeconomic status and ethnic or racial minorities. Someone with low economic status may feel afraid of seeking treatment because they will be not only stigmatized, but because they fear they cannot afford it, literally and metaphorically, raising the possibility of losing their job, house, or even friends and co-workers (United States National Institute of Public Health et. al., 1999a). Another probability is mistrust, especially amongst racial minorities a community. In America, many racial and ethnic minorities distrust treatment from medical professionals because it is viewed to be controlled by the dominant group, white European-Americans, who carry their culture alone into the …show more content…
Hayes mentioned that holding people of different cultures can help both the clinician and patient increase and question their oppression and privilege, and understand the differences of values in others. Hayes also suggests that doing cultural assessments may help one understand what is normal for their cultural needs and abnormal for themselves (Hayes 2008b). Alarcón (2009), in agreement with Hayes, mentioned that bringing one’s culture into their assessment is the only way it can be considered truly complete. Using culture in terms of one’s treatment can change it entirely: African-Americans especially may prefer to have religious figures there; Asians and Hispanics may like their family to get involved with the process. It is also important for clinicians to be able to respond to many cultures and the needs, backgrounds, and values of others so they may grasp hold of the individual, no matter who they are (United States National Institute of Public Health et. al.,