Mental Illness and Treatment Essay

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Inclusion of Cultural Factors Into the Mental Health Treatment Mix

Today, the United States and numerous other Western nations have experienced fundamental shifts in their demographic composition, and a growing body of evidence indicates that cultural factors such as different views of mental illness, interpretations of behavior, and family structure have fundamentally changed counseling and psychological treatment. In response, clinicians have sought to integrate evidence-based practices that take into account cross-cultural differences with respect to mental health treatment. Despite these recent trends, though, many people suffering from mental health disorders, irrespective of their backgrounds and ethnicity, remain the target of stigmatization which can adversely affect their willingness to actively participate in mental health treatment due to cultural differences that place a heavy burden on those who concede they need help. To determine the facts about these recent trends in mental health treatment, this paper reviews the relevant literature to provide an overview of the cross-cultural issues that constrain the efficacy of mental health interventions and how cultural perceptions can exacerbate prevailing stigmas as to how mental illness is viewed in different cultural contexts, including some salient examples. Finally, a summary of the research and important findings concerning mental health interventions in a cross-cultural setting are provided in the conclusion.

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Review and Discussion

One of the harsh realities that is associated with mental illness in any society is the stigma that is associated with the disorder. For instance, according to Lam and Tsang (2010), "Stigma has been identified in the literature as a prominent factor negatively affecting individuals with mental illness and their families in various cultures" (p. 35). This observation indicates that not only do those with mental illnesses suffer from stigma, so too do their families. This all-too-human response to those who are viewed as being mentally impaired may be universal, but it assumes different qualities and importance in different cultures. This unfortunate but seemingly natural response to an all-too-common illness can discourage those most in need of seeking the professional counseling they need to overcome their mental illnesses.

Given the severe implications of mental illnesses left untreated, such culture-specific perceptions of mental illness can have equally severe implications for those from cultures that regard mental illness as some type of religious vengeance from God or otherwise as retribution for past sins. Similarly, some cultures may view mental illness as a personal weakness or flaw rather than as a….....

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