Assignment Instructions/ Description
Discussion 1: Mental Health Diagnosis and Culture
Cultures vary in their approach to addressing individuals living with a mental illness. As a clinical social worker, it can sometimes be difficult to differentiate an unhealthy behavior from a cultural belief. A certain behavior by an individual that is acceptable in his or her culture may seem abnormal or unhealthy by an individual from another culture.
Another important aspect in understanding the culture of an individual living with a mental illness is stigmatization. In some cultures, the individual is no longer accepted and thus becomes isolated. Most times this is due to a lack of understanding of mental illness and underlying cultural beliefs within the population. This is when cultural competence skills become critical when working with individuals living with a mental illness.
As a clinical social worker, you need to be cognizant of the fact that people from different cultures have different viewpoints about mental illness. This will help you form effective relationships with the clients and their family members from various cultures and produce effective interventions.
For this Discussion, search the library for an article on cultural factors relevant to addressing mental illness and analyze the approach provided in the article. Then consider how you as a social worker might apply cultural competence when working with clients with a mental illness. Refer to the “Cultural Formulation Interview” in the DSM-5 while considering applying cultural competence when working with clients with a mental illness. Finally, consider the types of barriers you might encounter when working with a client from a different culture when addressing a mental health diagnosis.
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