scholarly journals Transcultural Psychiatry: Comparison of Eastern and Western Culture and their influence on mental health and its treatment

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shyun Ping Tiong ◽  
Starry Rajkumari ◽  
NurFariesha Farhanna binti Rasidi ◽  
Olga Viktorovna Poplavskaya
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Test Validity ◽  
Spiritual Healing ◽  
Strong Relationship ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Transcultural Psychiatry

Introduction In a globalizing world the need for humans to understand one another is fundamental. Transcultural Psychiatry aims to bridge the differences due to culture, norms and values, especially in a controversial topic such as the paranormal between doctors and patients. Objectives To study the beliefs of Eastern and Western populations on the subject of religion, the paranormal and its relation to mental health. Methods The study was conducted targeting citizens of Eastern and Western countries (target sample size 200). A survey and 2 case studies were distributed, aimed to determine respondents level of belief in cultural superstitions and practices, views on mental disorders and opinions on treatment. A chi-square statistical test (significance set at 0.05) was performed to test validity. Results Results are tabulated in Table 1. In the case studies, P-value =4.68x10 -6 proves a strong relationship between East/West populations and their viewpoints on mental illness vs. possession. There is a strong relationship (p=3.37x10 -5) between respondents beliefs in spiritual healing and its effectiveness in treating mental illness. Table 1 East West Total respondents (226) 58% 42% Identified as religious 74% 26% Strong belief in paranormal 85% 15% Effectiveness of spiritual healing 55% 45% Preferred methods of treatment Mental health professionals 54% 46% Religious healer/psychic 90% 10% Conclusions The study revealed that Eastern populations are far more superstitious and religious than their Western conterparts, and also have higher belief in the effectiveness of spiritual healing to treat mental disorders. This difference demonstrates the importance of integrating culture into diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses, and further explore methods for more inclusive treatment plans.

A brief history of the criminalization of mental illness

CNS Spectrums ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 638-650 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel A. Dvoskin ◽  
James L. Knoll ◽  
Mollie Silva
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Community Mental Health ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
The United States ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
The People ◽  
History Of ◽  
Serious Mental Illnesses

This article traces the history of the way in which mental disorders were viewed and treated, from before the birth of Christ to the present day. Special attention is paid to the process of deinstitutionalization in the United States and the failure to create an adequately robust community mental health system to care for the people who, in a previous era, might have experienced lifelong hospitalization. As a result, far too many people with serious mental illnesses are living in jails and prisons that are ill-suited and unprepared to meet their needs.

scholarly journals Tensions and Paradoxes of Stigma: Discussing Stigma in Mental Health Rehabilitation

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (16) ◽  
pp. 5943
Author(s):  
Jenny Paananen ◽  
Camilla Lindholm ◽  
Melisa Stevanovic ◽  
Elina Weiste
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Mentally Ill ◽  
Media Coverage ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Rehabilitation Centers ◽  
Health Rehabilitation ◽  
Mental Health Rehabilitation

Mental illness remains as one of the most stigmatizing conditions in contemporary western societies. This study sheds light on how mental health professionals and rehabilitants perceive stigmatization. The qualitative study is based on stimulated focus group interviews conducted in five Finnish mental health rehabilitation centers that follow the Clubhouse model. The findings were analyzed through inductive content analysis. Both the mental health rehabilitants and the professionals perceived stigmatization as a phenomenon that concerns the majority of rehabilitants. However, whereas the professionals viewed stigma as something that is inflicted upon the mentally ill from the outside, the rehabilitants perceived stigma as something that the mentally ill themselves can influence by advancing their own confidence, shame management, and recovery. Improvements in treatment, along with media coverage, were seen as the factors that reduce stigmatization, but the same conceptualization did not hold for serious mental illnesses. As the average Clubhouse client was thought to be a person with serious mental illness, the rehabilitation context designed to normalize attitudes toward mental health problems was paradoxically perceived to enforce the concept of inevitable stigma. Therefore, it is important for professionals in rehabilitation communities to be reflexively aware of these tensions when supporting the rehabilitants.

Does the Use of Psychiatrists as Sources of Information Improve Media Depictions of Mental Illness? A Pilot Study

1999 ◽  
Vol 33 (4) ◽  
pp. 583-589 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raymond Nairn
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Special Report ◽  
Lay Persons ◽  
Media Practices ◽  
Source Of Information ◽  
Positive Effect

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine whether mental illnesses are depicted in less negative ways in print media when psychiatrists rather than lay persons are the source of information. Method: Seven items from a special report on mental health, four derived from lay sources and three from psychiatrists, were subjected to a discourse analysis informed by knowledge of media practices. Results: The psychiatrists were clearly distinguished and deployed as experts in contrast to lay sources. Two of the psychiatrists presented mental illnesses in less negative ways than in the other items. These more positive depictions were undermined by the devices that the journalists used to give authority to the portrayals of mental illness and by the need to create ‘newsworthy’ items. Conclusion: If psychiatrists and other mental health professionals are to have a positive effect on how media depict mental illness, they will have to develop closer relationships with journalists and a better appreciation of media priorities and practices.

scholarly journals The Effectiveness of Spiritual Psychotherapy on Patients with Mental Disorders: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Ahmad Wahyudi Wahyudi ◽  
Ah Yusuf ◽  
Mundakir
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Religious Beliefs ◽  
Spiritual Healing ◽  
Religion And Spirituality ◽  
Case Control Studies ◽  
Mental Health Clinics ◽  
Health Clinics

Recently, the research analyzes the relationship between religion and spirituality has grown rapidly.Many mental health clinics have implemented interventions on religious and spirituality-based mental disorders. This article aimed to examine the effectiveness of handling mental-based mental disorders from various studies that have been conducted. Methods: The articles used in this systematic review were searched in the SCOPUS, PROQUEST, SPRINGERLINK, SAGE and SCIENCEDIRECT databases which is published between 2016-2020. The keyword used were "mental disorders" or "mental illness" and “spiritual” or “religious”, with the use of the phrase Boolean Operators. The articles selected according to the inclusion criteria include articles stating the effectiveness of spiritual healing for mental disorders, articles that analyzed mental illness patients in RCT, case-control studies and experiment. The articles obtained then were analyzed with the DSVIA conclusion table (design, sampling, variables, intervention and analysis). Results: There were 15 articles that meet the criteria as a systematic review.Thestudy result showed that there was a relationship between religious/spiritual involvement and mental disorders (positive). The findings from previous research indicated that religion play an important role in many situations because religious beliefs and rules affect people's lives. Conclusions:The majority of the previous literature stated a significant relationship between religious beliefs and practices and mental health.

Depictions of Mental Illness in Print Media: A Prospective National Sample

2002 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 697-700 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Coverdale ◽  
Raymond Nairn ◽  
Donna Claasen
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Print Media ◽  
National Sample ◽  
Diagnostic Categories

Objective: Because there are no published reports of depictions of mental illness in print media based on national samples, we set out to prospectively collect and analyse a near complete New Zealand sample of print media. Methods: A commercial clipping bureau was contracted to provide cuttings of all items with any mental health or illness aspect over a four week period. These items were analysed for potentially positive and negative depictions and how mental illness was represented within each item. An independent search for additional newspaper items concerning one prominently featured topic indicated that the rate of identification of relevant stories was at least 91%. Result: The collection consisted of six hundred print items which were most commonly news or editorial pieces (n = 562, 93.7%). Negative depictions predominated, with dangerousness to others (n = 368, 61.3%) and criminality (n = 284, 47.3%) being the most common. Positive depictions, including human rights themes, leadership and educational accomplishments occurred in 27% (n = 164) of all items. Generic mental illness terminology without reference to specific diagnostic categories was present in 47% of all items (n = 284). Conclusions: Negative depictions that predominate confirm the stereotypic understanding of mental illness that is stigmatizing. These findings underscore the challenge facing us as mental health professionals attempting to change attitudes towards mental disorders when the stereotypes are so regularly reinforced.

Perceived barriers on utilization of mental health services among adults in Dodoma Municipality – Tanzania

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 79-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tumbwene Elieza Mwansisya ◽  
Anne H. Outwater ◽  
Zhening Liu
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Spiritual Healing ◽  
Perceived Barriers ◽  
Evil Spirit ◽  
Content Type

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine perceived barriers to utilization of mental health services among adults in Dodoma Municipality, Tanzania. To improve the use of mental health services, identifying related perceived barriers is a key step. Design/methodology/approach – A concurrent mixed method model was used. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews (n=152) using a structured survey questionnaire. In addition in-depth interviews were conducted (n=10). The quantitative data were analyzed by using Epi info version 2002. Content analysis was used for analyzing qualitative data. Findings – The majority of respondents opted to use modern mental health facilities for mental illness treatment. They also used spiritual healing and other forms traditional methods including herbal medicines. The most frequently identified causes of mental illness were: drug abuse, being cursed and witchcraft, demons or evil spirit possession. The reported significant perceived barriers were stigma, economic, lack of transport, witchcraft, lack of awareness of mental health services, unemployment, and negative believes about professional cure. Originality/value – The option for mental health service utilization is influenced by the existing barriers on community and clients’ perception. There is a need for mental health professionals and policy makers to integrate mental health into primary care. Mutual sharing of knowledge between mental health professionals and tradition healers is warranted. Further research on the attitudes toward mental health professional services and on effectiveness of traditional healers’ services is indicated.

scholarly journals Attitudes towards psychiatric treatment and people with mental illness: changes over two decades

2013 ◽  
Vol 203 (2) ◽  
pp. 146-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias C. Angermeyer ◽  
Herbert Matschinger ◽  
Georg Schomerus
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Alcohol Dependence ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Mental Health Treatment ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Psychiatric Treatment ◽  
Public Attitudes ◽  
People With Mental Illness

BackgroundOver the past decades, psychiatry, as a science and a clinical discipline, has witnessed profound changes.AimsTo examine whether these changes are reflected in changes in the public's conceptualisation of mental disorders, the acceptance of mental health treatment and attitudes towards people with mental illness.MethodIn 1990 and 2011, population surveys were conducted in Germany on public attitudes about schizophrenia, depression and alcohol dependence.ResultsAlthough the public has become more inclined to endorse a biological causation of schizophrenia, the opposite trend was observed with the other two disorders. The public's readiness to recommend help-seeking from mental health professionals and using psychotherapy and psychotropic medication has increased considerably. Attitudes towards people with schizophrenia worsened, whereas for depression and alcohol dependence no or inconsistent changes were found.ConclusionsThe growing divide between attitudes towards schizophrenia and other mental disorders should be of particular concern to future anti-stigma campaigns.

scholarly journals “I Am Not My Illness!”: Navigating the Mental Healthcare System in New Orleans

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Saira Mehmood ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Critical Race Theory ◽  
Mental Health Services ◽  
Health Services ◽  
New Orleans ◽  
Healthcare System ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Mental Illnesses

This research examines the experiences of individuals diagnosed with chronic mental illnesses and how they navigated the mental healthcare system in New Orleans, Louisiana. To realize the main research objective, I analyzed how individuals with chronic mental illnesses perceive mental illness and stigma; the services individuals use to address their mental health needs and the barriers they face in this process; who individuals disclose their mental illness to and under what contexts; and how individuals diagnosed with mental illness and their caregivers understand and embody recovery. Situated between medical anthropology and urban anthropology, it examines the challenges individuals diagnosed with chronic mental illness and caregivers encounter in utilizing mental health services. Using critical race theory and studies on whiteness, I analyze the intersectional identities of individuals to understand how various axes of identities such as race, gender, age, and religion affect how people utilize mental health services, conceptualize stigma, how this is related to disclosure, and what recovery means to them. While I use stigma scales to measure various types of stigma, I triangulate this data with observations from participant-observation and interviews to reconceptualize stigma in what Tyler and Slater (2018) argue for approaching the social and political dynamics of stigma and acknowledging history. I do this through the use of stigma syndemics. Central to this is the role of mental health professionals and other key stakeholders, and how they interact with individuals utilizing community mental health services. I examine how past experiences such as trauma and incarceration limit access to housing programs, employment, and how this affects recovery. Lastly, I argue that for effective advocacy on mental health to occur, synergistic activism through coalition building needs to transpire between all the entities that affect individuals who have mental illnesses.

scholarly journals Assess the Psychosocial Problem Faced by the Primary Caregivers of Mentally Challenged Children

2021 ◽  
pp. 399-404
Author(s):  
Achal Jiwane ◽  
Ragini Joshi ◽  
Divyani Kanholkar ◽  
Shreya Kapgate ◽  
Deeplata Mendhe
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Pervasive Developmental Disorders ◽  
Developmental Disorders ◽  
Primary Caregivers ◽  
Psychosocial Problems ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Psychosocial Problem ◽  
Stressful Event

Background: It is estimated that up to 20% of children worldwide suffer from debilitating mental illness. Learning disabilities, ADHD, depression, psychosis, pervasive developmental disorders, attachment disorders, anxiety, and conduct disorder are all serious mental illnesses. Living with such children can be extremely stressful for the family's caregiver. Recognizing the difficulties of living with these children is critical in assisting or supporting caregivers in providing appropriate care for their children. For family members, the onset and long-term presence of mental illness can be a stressful event or a crisis. Interactions with mental health professionals have been found to have an impact on these families' transition from crisis to recovery. Families who meet with a mental health professional regularly have a better chance of recovering from the crisis and dealing with the situation. Objectives: Assess the psychosocial problem faced by the primary caregivers of mentally challenged children. Materials and Methods: Descriptive research study was to assess psychosocial problems faced by primary caregiver’s children who are mentally challenged. Selected parents who are mentally challenged children of community area. In this study total number of 50 samples to fulfill the inclusion criteria were selected. Likert scale was developed to assess psychosocial problems. Expected Result: This study is a plan to assess the psychosocial problem faced by primary care children who are mentally challenged. Hence it is expected to identify the psychosocial problem of parents with mentally challenged children.

Prescriptive Power: Biologism, Biopsychiatry and Drug-centred Psychopharmacology

Somatechnics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 291-309
Author(s):  
Francis Russell
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Social Justice ◽  
Cultural Theory ◽  
Human Experience ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
False Consciousness ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Biological Ontology ◽  
Health Discourse

This paper looks to make a contribution to the critical project of psychiatrist Joanna Moncrieff, by elucidating her account of ‘drug-centred’ psychiatry, and its relation to critical and cultural theory. Moncrieff's ‘drug-centred’ approach to psychiatry challenges the dominant view of mental illness, and psychopharmacology, as necessitating a strictly biological ontology. Against the mainstream view that mental illnesses have biological causes, and that medications like ‘anti-depressants’ target specific biological abnormalities, Moncrieff looks to connect pharmacotherapy for mental illness to human experience, and to issues of social justice and emancipation. However, Moncrieff's project is complicated by her framing of psychopharmacological politics in classical Marxist notions of ideology and false consciousness. Accordingly, she articulates a political project that would open up psychiatry to the subjugated knowledge of mental health sufferers, whilst also characterising those sufferers as beholden to ideology, and as being effectively without knowledge. Accordingly, in order to contribute to Moncrieff's project, and to help introduce her work to a broader humanities readership, this paper elucidates her account of ‘drug-centred psychiatry’, whilst also connecting her critique of biopsychiatry to notions of biologism, biopolitics, and bio-citizenship. This is done in order to re-describe the subject of mental health discourse, so as to better reveal their capacities and agency. As a result, this paper contends that, once reframed, Moncrieff's work helps us to see value in attending to human experience when considering pharmacotherapy for mental illness.

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