October 10 is World Mental Health Day
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
JC Jones MA RN
The 2007 World Mental Health Day Campaign is focuses on transcultural mental health services and treatment. With so many migrants in any given country, the need for culturally sensitive care is increasingly important - so important that the United Nations offers a Guide to Working from Within: 24 Tips for Culturally Sensitive Programming. Some of the advice the UN offers is:
- Never Give Up - closed societies change slowly. Small changes are significant and may be more enduring over the long term
- Mobilize traditional and religious leaders: engage respected authorities to shape opinions
- Outreach through popular culture: Use music and dance to communicate ideas and involve young people in the process
- Honor commitments: Follow through on any promise you make to build confidence and trust
- Be a facilitator rather than authority: You don't have all the answers so communicate a message of neutrality and encourage others to share their views
- Ask the interpreter to translate literally rather than paraphrase
- Maintain eye contact with the client and direct questions to the client, not the interpreter
- Ask short, simple questions, one at a time
- values diversity
- is aware of transcultural dynamics and sensitive to them
- adapts to the cultural values of others
Thank you freshlysqueezed for use of photo Sikh elder.
Labels: culture, diversity, mental illness, respect
3 Comments:
At Wed Oct 10, 02:25:00 AM 2007,
Health Watch Center said…
Hi Jones,
Very helpful and informative post...thank you for sharing it on right time...
People who are mentally ill should communicate and share their feelings with others, which can help them enormously. They should keep in touch with friends and family members so that they can take help whenever they feel lonely.
At Mon Oct 15, 06:26:00 AM 2007,
Jordan said…
As one who has bi-polar disorder I am grateful for Mental Health Awareness month, yet also am reminded of the stigma of my disorder. Far too many people see ME as my disorder and not the now finally balanced person I am with medication and years of therapy. My only medical ally is my psychiatrist. No other medical
"professionals" treat me first as a patient after I reveal the medication I am taking, even my regular doctor. Once that info is disclosed I am then viewed as a mental illness and any physical injuries or problems seem to be dismissed. Two days in a row at my local ER with a major knee, foot and ankle blunt force trama injury I was told, "you're a big baby" and no tests were performed, then I was sent home. After many long months of terrible pain I finally was treated by a podiatrist who deemed my foot and ankle injuries to be severe and he gave me proper treatment, but due to the lengthy delay I now have a permant injury. As a responsible patient I know the importance of revealing my mecications, but once I do, the care I should receive doesn't happen. I then become BI-POLAR woman and not a patient. I pray October (my birth month) and Mental Health month will open the eyes of physicians so they will treat every patient with the care they deserve.
At Mon Oct 15, 11:04:00 AM 2007,
JC Jones MA RN said…
I apologize that my health professional colleagues did not treat you with the compassion and respect you deserve. Bipolar disorder is a "physical" disorder like any other - it manifests in the brain and therefore alters mood, personality and thought. Anyone who knows anything about bipolar disorder cannot help but have tremendous compassion for those afflicted with this most challenging problem. Some of the most beautiful, talented and intelligent people in the world are bipolar.
Post a Comment
<< Home