Transcultural mental health issues

What does culture have to do with mental health issues?

Culture plays an incredibly important role in the cause and reasoning of mental health. Cultural beliefs can shape the way people identify stress and the way in which they seek help. Indeed, in some cultures, people suffering from depression and anxiety disorders can also present with physical/psychosomatic symptoms.

As Britain becomes more culturally-enriched, striving for a melting pot of nations and ethnicities as opposed to a salad bowl of clearly defined ethnic groups, our society is slowly adapting.

Ethnicity and rates of mental illness

Research has indicated that there are more Black Caribbean, Black African and other Black groups in psychiatric hospitals than other ethnic groups. Furthermore, it is documented that a higher number of African Caribbean people are diagnosed with schizophrenia than other ethnicities.

Other studies have shown that Irish people have a higher rate of mental illness than the general population. This ethnic group is often overlooked because they have white skin, but Irish-born people living in the UK have a higher suicide rate than any other minority ethnic group in the country.

It is important to look at the wider picture when examining statistics. Different cultures respond to mental illness in varying ways. Research indicates that although more Black Caribbean people are treated for psychosis, this may be because of the way in which they express their symptoms rather than because their ethnic group is more prone to the condition.

Racism and mental health

Minority groups commonly report experience with racism and discrimination, which causes considerable stress and anxiety. In the USA, African Americans and Hispanic Americans report higher levels of stress than white people. As a result, researchers have made the connection between racism and poor mental and physical health.

Racism and discrimination adversely affect mental health and place minorities at risk of depression, anxiety and stress. It is not clear if these disorders can be attributed solely to a person's ethnicity, but it is certain that race is a contributory factor.

How Priory can help

Priory has been helping to treat people who have mental health issues which may have a relation to their culture for over 25 years. We know that everyone's situation is different, which is why we ensure that everyone has a unique treatment plan tailored to their needs.

The type and length of treatment is dependent on the individual's circumstances and the severity of the condition. Some patients are treated as outpatients, which means they come to Priory for hourly sessions with their consultant, psychologist or therapist. Others require a more structured treatment approach which can include staying at one of the Priory hospitals for the duration of their treatment where they take part in the psychological group programme as well as regular sessions with their consultant.

For more information or to request an initial assessment, please call 0845 2 PRIORY (0845 2 774 679) or email info@priorygroup.com

To view a list of the Priory hospitals that can help with transcultural mental health issues please click here.

For more support

If you feel you may be affected by trans-cultural mental health issues and would like help or more information, you can ask your GP or contact any of the following organisations:

National BME Mental Health Network
www.bmementalhealth.org.uk
0207 582 0400

Priory
www.priorygroup.com
0845 2 774 679

If you are interested in receiving treatment from us, your GP will be able to refer you.