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Cultural Understandings in Mental Health Treatment

2/23/2020

8 Comments

 
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By: Danielle Lee

Culture matters when addressing mental health, because in order to improve an individual’s mental health, you have to understand what guides their decisions. For example, in the Native American culture, they are nomadic, which means they move with the land, because as seasons change, so do their resources. Sticking to their roots and appreciating the land so deeply, has affected the ways in which they handle the improvements of mental health. In the video Culture Matters: Indigenous Perspective on Behavioral Healthcare they mention the camp Old Minto Recovery Camp located in Alaska, where a young girl mentioned “it’s good to be out in the open because other treatments that I’ve been to, you’re locked up in a building and can’t do nothing, here you can go out and chop wood” (11:07-11:22). There was also the mention that the recovery camp was unique because an individual seeking help could bring their families with them to go through the recovery process together. What Western medicine technique has proved to be as inviting?
Understanding the importance of unity and the connection that the Native Americans have with their land can help aid Western medicine in helping to improve mental health among this community. Western medicine typically relies on the support of medications and hospital buildings or clinics. To push this pressure on a community that doesn’t seek this way of treatment can tarnish the relationship already desperately needed to be built. Instead with the understanding of culture, both Western medicine and the Native American community can team up to find a solution that addresses and improves mental health. A solution that includes being united with the land, its resources and the involvement of family and friends.

Source:
​Alonzo, D. (Director). Echo-Hawk, H. (Narrator). (2011). Culture Matters: Indigenous Perspectives on Behavioral Healthcare  [Online video]. Wide Angle Studios . Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfdCaFEls_c <%22>
8 Comments
Lena Angelica Camacho
2/23/2020 11:57:20 pm

Hi Danielle,
It was very interesting to me that with the recovery camp in Alaska they were able to bring their families with them, I honestly think that is a great idea because your family is usually your main support group. And this helps them understand what you are going through personally and how they can help you in the best ways.

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Christine Nguyen
2/24/2020 12:01:54 am

Hi Danielle,
Thank you for sharing your blog post! I agree that being able to understand the importance of unity and the connection that the Native Americans have with their land can help improve Western medicine. There are a lot of natural resources that has proven to work and cure the ill and if researchers are able to spread that knowledge, then they could be one step closer in finding a cure towards cancer or creating a new vaccine.

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Savannah Compton
2/24/2020 02:49:12 am

Hello Danielle,
Thank you for sharing. I think this issue is not talked about enough and it really needs to be because it effects so many lives. Doctors need to be more aware of their culture and their lives to help them. I see many Alasken Natives that are alcohol dependence which is very upsetting. They need to have more effective way for treatment for mental health and Addictions because it is such a huge issue in their culture. Victor Joseph in the video was the health services director for Tanana Chiefs Conference and he is currently the president. I know that they have been improving these issues from someone that works their. My nephews are Alaskan native and both of their fathers have had issues with addictions to drugs and alcohol. This issue i feel really needs more awareness and improvements to better the Native Americans lives.

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Selena Sorn
2/24/2020 02:13:37 pm

Hi Danielle,
In addition to understanding how land is important to Native Americans for seeking care, another reason mentioned in the video was how indigenous people don't seek care because non native health providers don't understand their culture. It is important for health providers to understand the culture of the population they are serving so that they could provide the best care they possibly could. Since the health providers don't understand their culture, it may have created an environment where it is uncomfortable for them to seek care.

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Jody Early
2/24/2020 09:53:13 pm

Danielle,
Thank you for writing about this topic. Culture plays a large role in mental health--from how it's perceived to the models of care that are available. What was one of the most interesting things you learned from the film or from exploring indigenous perspectives and therapy models relating to mental health?
-Dr. Early

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Erica Nguyen
2/24/2020 10:00:50 pm

I think culture plays a major role in mental health and I agree with the points that you made. What really stood out to me was the question you asked which was "What Western medicine technique has proved to be as inviting?". It reminded me of the Ted Talk by Elyn Saks where she described her first hospitalization following her first episode with schizophrenia and how she was basically physically assaulted and was forced to be hospitalized without any consent. It made me question why she was even treated like that in the first place and made me wonder about the preconceptions that outsiders think about mental illness. I think culture can provide medical professionals insight that they've never had before and its information that you can't truly get from a book. I hope that more individuals become more aware of how much culture has on the treatment of mental illnesses.

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Lauren Toth
2/26/2020 09:08:37 pm

Hi Danielle,
I love the example you gave in your post from the film, and it explained so well how culture plays such a huge role in people's lives, and ultimately their health. I don't disagree that our current cultural practices could learn from those who go a holistic route when it comes to healing and becoming healthier versus filling out bodies with medications which could potentially lead to greater issues.

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Dezha S.
2/29/2020 02:46:41 pm

Hi Danielle,

It is great that you bring up this topic from a different point of view because it is important to have an understanding of one's culture in case that has an impact on the kind of decisions that they make as you stated above. When thinking of mental health or the conditions of anyone's health you have to consider all factors for example income, SES, access and the kind of resources that are available for them and you would also need to be aware of their beliefs, values and culture because that does impact how you are able to probably care for, support and develop an effective treatment plan for an individual in order to increase health outcomes. Thank you for your post!

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