Addressing Barriers to Learning:Culture-Specific Mental Health Issues

Aitza Galarza-HernandezRebecca McSwainElizabeth Uzcategui

OBJECTIVES• Discuss Diversity Issues

• Describe Mental Health Concerns Related to Diverse Populations

• Discuss School-based Intervention Ideas

Video Clip

• The Danger of the Single Story

What do you know about Native American Culture?

• Form small groups of 4-5 participants• Choose one person to record answers• Group shares what they know of the given

cultural group

Native American Cultural Strengths

• Collectivistic• Resiliency• Orientation to Nature• Resourcefulness• Wisdom of Family/Tribal Elders• Communication

What do you know about African-American Culture?• Form small groups of 4-5 participants• Choose one person to record answers• Group shares what they know of the given

cultural group

African American Cultural Strengths

• Collectivistic• Family-Oriented (Extended & Nuclear)• Racial Pride• Important Role of Elders• Religious Orientation

What do you know about Asian Culture?• Form small groups of 4-5 participants• Choose one person to record answers• Group shares what they know of the given

cultural group

Asian Culture Strengths

• Collectivistic• Important role of elders• Resiliency• Family-oriented (includes the deceased)• Considered the “Model Minority”

o -Double-edged sword

What do you know about Hispanic culture?

• Form small groups of 4-5 participants• Choose one person to record answers• Group shares what they know of the given

cultural group

Hispanic Culture Strengths

• Collectivistic, Cooperative Learning Styles• Bilingual/Bicultural Abilities• Family-Oriented• Resiliency• Strong Religious Beliefs• Tradition-Oriented• Emphasis on Interpersonal Relationships

Prevalent Mental Health Issues:

• Native American Culture• Asian Culture• African American Culture• Hispanic Culture

Alcoholism: ADHD, Fetal Alcohol SyndromeSuicide: Major Depressive DisorderVictims of trauma: PTSDHomelessness: Numerous mental health issuesUtilization of Mental Health Services:More likely to use inpatient servicesMore likely to use school-based servicesTraditional healers provide many services

Mental Health Issues in American-Indian Cultures

Prevalent Mental Health Issues

• Hispanic Cultureo Anxiety-related behavioral problemso Depressive symptoms and distresso Increased drug useo Increased suicidal ideationo Culture-bound syndromes such as “susto” (fright), “nervios”

(nerves), “mal de ojo” (evil eye), and “ataque de nervios” (screaming uncontrollably, crying, trembling, verbal or physical aggression, dissociative experiences, seizure-like or fainting episodes, and suicidal gestures)

o Adjustment Disorders (differences betweeen home environment and the world they function in)

Prevalent Mental Health Issues

• African American Culture

o Alcohol-Drug Abuseo Prone to conduct disorderso Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD)o Depression

o Aggressivenesso Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder o Less likely to seek/receive mental health serviceso Socioeconomic status placed them at risk for mental health

problems

Prevalent Mental Health Issues

• Asian American Culture

• Least likely to seek help for mental health disorders due to values self-reliance, reservation, and fear of shaming the family.

• Difficulty accessing mental health treatment due to language issues.

• Increased risk for depression• Social anxiety/fears• High rates of suicide

Prevalent Mental Health Issues

• Asian American Culture• Culture-bound Syndromes (anxieties experienced as

physical symptoms)

• Shenjing Shuairuo: stress related and experienced as pain, numbness, fatigue, and fainting.

• Hwa-Byung “fire illness, supressed anger”: Korean folk illness experienced as heavy feeling in chest, sleeplessness, flushing, palpitations, and blurred vision.

What are your experiences?

Clips from The Office

School Interventions

• Although teachers are not mental health services providers, they do play a vital role in supporting students’ mental wellness and helping to identify and support students who may have a mental health problem. Specific recommendations are:

School Interventions• Learn as much as possible about the cultural and

linguistic background of the students you teach.• Acknowledge that within culture differences are

as important as differences between cultures.• Allow students to share their thoughts, ideas and

feelings through the use of cooperative groups, dialogue journals and other forms of interactive learning.

• Enhance students’ self-image, motivation and cultural prode by using culturally-relevant materials.

• Invite parents and families to actively participate in their children’s education.

School Interventions (cont.)• Beware that families from diverse linguistic or

cultural backgrounds may not initiate requests for help or use in-school resources available to address mental health issues. Small sessions to provide orientation in regards the available resources will be necessary.

• Seek help from the resources in your building (i.e, school counselor, social worker, mental health worker, or school psychologist).

• Small group activities on self-efficacy and study skills.

• Partnering with”like-minded peers”.

Strategies to Enhance Home-School Collaboration

• Regular and positive communication with parents and/or guardians.

• Emphasize strengths.• Empower the parent (e.g.,

seating arragement free of barriers, ask open-ended questions during conferences, and ask for parents impressions of the situation at hand.

Questions, Comments, Concerns

ResourcesAmerican Psychiatric Association. (2010). Asian American/Pacific Islanders. (http://www.healthyminds.org/More-Info-For/Asian- AmericanPacific-Islanders.asp)Mental Health: Culture, Race, Ethnicity Fact Sheets-Asian Americans. Department of Human Services. (http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/cre/fact2.asp).Villalba, Jose A. (2008). School Mental Health Project: Addressing Cultural Diversity in School Mental Health. SEHAC, Wilmington, North Carolina.Williams, Barbara Bole (2006). Culturally Competent Mental Health Services in the Schools: Tips for Teachers. (http://www/nasponline.org/culturalcompetence/index.html.