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  • Essay / Cultural Views of Mental Illness

    Mental health is defined as a state of well-being in which each individual understands their own potential, can cope with normal stressors throughout their life, can work productive manner and is able to impact one's own potential. own community. The National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) defines mental illness as a condition that affects a person's thinking, feelings, mood, ability to interact with others, and daily functioning. Knowing these terms will help me in nursing consider applying this knowledge to what cultures consider mental health versus mental illness and what they may consider acceptable or unacceptable. A person's culture influences their worldview; non-verbal communication patterns; and ways of seeing the person, the family and the “right” way of thinking and behaving in society. Deviation from these cultural expectations on the part of other individuals involved within the group can be described as a “disease.” For this reason, views on mental illness may differ across cultures. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay As a child, I grew up in a Christian home where my family taught me that everyone was equal and that it was necessary to treat others as you wish. to be treated. But as I grew up and watched TV and listened to the news, I didn't see these same ethics applied by people around the world. Because of this, people my age were growing up being taught that people with mental illness were outcasts or "different" and that they should all be institutionalized and/or treated differently. It was explained that these people had a choice to improve themselves and that if they wanted to, they could. I was raised in a family that was knowledgeable about the medical field and even mental illness, as a few members of my family had been diagnosed with or had lived experience with mental illness. But I never remember hearing about the treatment options. People can maintain their emotional health through medication treatment and the use of non-pharmacological options to assist and distract. or make them feel better. Medications can be used to help reduce anxiety, help sleep, decrease hallucinations, etc. Non-pharmacological alternatives may be exercise, support groups, cooking, fishing, or even buying pets. Well-being is considered the balance of body, mind and spirit. , and nature in Native American culture. Native Americans believe that diseases invade the bodies of individuals who are unbalanced, are negative thinkers, or lead an unhealthy lifestyle. Beliefs differ among the many Native American tribes living in the United States, but some Native American groups have certain beliefs about the cause and treatment of mental illness that do not align with usual clinical practice, and their expression of emotional or psychological distress may not match this one. is clinically expected. Some Native Americans receive help from “traditional healers” and not doctors. They consider that medical interventions are more focused on healing the person than on curing the disease. They also believe that the person suffering from the disease can heal themselves through their mind, body and soul. Terms such as "phantom illness" and "grief syndrome" are used in this culture to express