Multicultural Perspectives on Health and Wellbeing/Mental health

The World Health Organization defines mental health as "a state of well-being in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community". Whereas, mental illness or disorder refers to a health problem that significantly affects how a person feels, thinks, behaves, and interacts with other people and standardised criteria is used for its diagnosis. A National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing conducted in 2007 estimated that one in five adults in Australia had experienced a mental disorder in the previous 12 months.

Studies have found that CALD communities are less likely to access mental health services than the mainstream population. There are a number of reasons for the lower uptake including, stigma, language barriers and cultural beliefs to causes and preference of treatment of mental illness. These impediments and different cultures' experiences of mental illness will be explored in this week's lecture and workshop.

Lecture
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5PbDKALKaPRV1VieGE1MTRfMDA/view?pref=2&pli=1

Readings
Cross, W. M., & Bloomer, M. J. (2010). Extending boundaries: Clinical communication with culturally and linguistically diverse mental health clients and carers. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 19(4), 268-277. doi: 10.1111/j.1447-0349.2010.00667.x

Gorman, D., Brough, M., & Ramirez, E. (2003). How young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds experience mental health: Some insights for mental health nurses. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 12(3), 194-202. doi: 10.1046/j.1440-0979.2003.00289.x

Wynaden, D., Chapman, R., Orb, A., McGowan, S., Zeeman, Z., & Yeak, S. (2005). Factors that influence Asian communities’ access to mental health care. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 14(2), 88-95. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-0979.2005.00364.x

Media
http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2015-08-20/culturally-sensitive-program-launched-tackle-indigenous-suicide/6712482