Cultural Impact on mental health

Cultural Variations in Understanding and Treatment of Mental Health

Cultural relativism posits that mental illness definitions are unique to each culture and subjective. One culture’s norm may be another’s disorder.
Some societies have culture-specific syndromes, distinctive afflictions that are recognised in specific communities or societies, but not universally. An example would be the “Windigo” of Algonquin Indian tribes in Canada.
Establishing accurate prevalence rates of mental illness across cultures is arduous due to varying interpretations of symptoms and disorders.
Western societies primarily view mental illness from a biomedical perspective, focusing on biological markers and psychological symptoms.
However, many Eastern or Developing cultures interpret mental health issues as phenomena tied to spiritual or social imbalance.
Stigma and prejudice towards mental illness varies greatly across cultures, from acceptance and understanding, to rejection and discrimination.
Treatment approaches too can vary vastly, from biomedical treatments in Western societies to faith healing, herbal remedies and even exorcisms in some societies.
Western psychotherapeutic techniques, while effective in their birthplace, may not translate perfectly when applied to different cultures due to differences in individualistic vs. collectivist values.
Psychologists must be mindful of the cultural context in which the mental health issue is situated. This cultural sensitivity ensures validity and can guide more effective treatment strategies.