Thursday, April 10, 2014
Mental Illness Across Countries: Afghanistan, Japan, the US
Afghanistan
Cultural Background
Islam is practiced by the majority of Afghanis and governs much of their personal, political, economic and legal lives
- Afghanistan is a vast country and as a result has a rich mix of ethnicity and tribes.The family is the single most important unit in the Afghan culture.
- Honor in Afghan culture defines the reputation and worth of an individual, as well as those they are associated with.
- The head male of a family is responsible for protecting the honor of the family. The issue of honor drives much of the behavior surrounding the protection of women, modes of dress, social interaction, education and economic activities
The most common disorders in Afghanistan are: Post-traumatic stress disorder, Clinical Depression, and Anxiety Disorders which all relate back to war.
Mental health is a notable area of weakness in health policy and practice post-Taliban. Mental health services are almost non-existent and there is little domestic capacity to prevent or treat mental illness. In Afghanistan, mental illness is often misunderstood and stigmatized. The stigma is very prominent in their culture, and essentially says that you are either healthy or "mad". Many people will not actually go to an institution to receive help in order to be withheld from this stigma. Afghanistan reportedly has only 42 psychologists and psychiatrists in the entire country. The Kabul Psychiatric Hospital, notorious for its unhygienic state, has only 60 beds; while experts say at least a 300-bed facility is needed. It was also criticized in a 2010 assessment for not providing follow-up treatment post-discharge and for the high relapse rates of addicts and mental health patients. In 2010, over 6,400 patients were admitted to the hospital and 21,000 patient consultations took place (of which nearly half were treated for depression and 5,000 treated for psychosis)
Japan
Cultural Background
- 70% of Japanese profess no religion
- In Japanese culture, those who say very little are considered credible. Their non-verbal cue
- Japanese people value the importance of a strong government in order to keep peaceful and harmonious relations among all its people
The Japanese view Mental Disorders as a weakness. Shame and Stigma prevents people from speaking out and getting help for mental illnesses. Some even consider mental disorders as a form of karma for doing something wrong. It is also seen as an imaginary demon or evil spirit.
Treatment: In Japanese society, the social expectation is that supervision or caring for people who have disorders associated with loss of mental and behavioral self-control will be borne by the patients or their families. Thus mental illness is not viewed as something that requires professional treatment. Although treatments are available for many mental-health disorders, almost two-thirds of sufferers never seek help from a health professional
There are resources for the Japanese to get help if needed, and the process is like that in the US (evaluated and assessed then diagnosed). It is just that the stigma around mental health is so strong many do not seek help.
The number one disorder in Japan is GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder)
The United States
Cultural Background
- "melting pot" (people of many races and cultures)
- More than 75% identify as Christian
- Large workforce
- Big influence on the rest of the world
Mental disorders are very common in the United States. 1 in 4 adults suffer from a diagnosed mental illness. Mental disorders are the leading cause for disability in the US. There is a mild stigma for mental illness, people may think you are "crazy" and something is wrong with you. However, that stigma seems to be disappearing every day.
The United States is NUMBER 1 in number of individuals with a Mental Illness
The United States has an abundance of mental health services. There are doctors, hospitals, and therapists that work to help those through their disorders.
Treatment could involve any form of therapy whether that is talking to someone for an hour every week or taking medicine to suppress symptoms daily.
The most prominent mental disorders in the United States are: Schizophrenia, Panic Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, Phobias, ADHD, and the most common being Mood Disorders.
Works Cited
"10 Most Diagnosed Mental
Disorders." Discovery Channel. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Apr. 2014.
"Afghanistan - Language,
Culture, Customs and Etiquette." The Translation Agency For A Complete
Professional Translation Service. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Apr. 2014.
"Use of Mental Health Services
and Treatment Among Adults." NIMH RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr.
2014.
Zimmermann, Kim Ann. "American
Culture: Traditions and Customs of the United States." LiveScience.
TechMedia Network, 22 Apr. 2013. Web. 08 Apr. 2014.
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