https://padlet.com/craig_hunter/bztqb4ca101y Based on your learning from Weeks 2 and 3, please attempt to succinctly summarise the relationship between culture and well-being and ill-health. To help you structure your summary, please use the following keywords: ‘normality’, ‘abnormality’, ‘aetiology’, ‘treatment’, ‘prognosis’, ‘manifestation’, ‘experience’, ‘explanation’, ‘local community’, ‘health professionals’. en-us 2017-04-07 11:25:39 UTC 2025-10-21 15:22:59 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Lightdecrease.png https://padlet.com/craig_hunter/bztqb4ca101y/wish/170357515 Experiences of well-being and ill-health seem embedded in culturally-mediated notions of personhood, normality, deviation, and the animate and the spiritual world. Those synergistic belief systems, together with the specific socio-historical context, shape the individual’s and the community’s interpretation of symptoms, espoused treatment (healing) approaches and tolerability of particular symptom manifestations.Through a process of cultural negotiation involving the nuclear family, the local community and health professionals, and moderated by the individual’s genetic predisposition and psychophysiological responses, those belief systems may hinder or help prognosis.]]> 2017-05-07 12:44:20 UTC https://padlet.com/craig_hunter/bztqb4ca101y/wish/170357515 https://padlet.com/craig_hunter/bztqb4ca101y/wish/195578384 (Catherine Maloney)

Classifying individuals as “mentally well” or “mentally ill” relies upon extensive understanding of the local community and culture. Western health care professionals may label “abnormal behavior” as a manifestation of a particular mental illness. However, the professionals’ perception of “abnormality” typically stems from a Western perspective of the norm. Therefore, clinicians must investigate the patients’ explanation of their behavior and lived experience, while respecting the locally perceived validity of traditional healing practices. Only then may health professionals offer culturally sensitive treatment options. ]]> 2017-10-10 13:24:18 UTC https://padlet.com/craig_hunter/bztqb4ca101y/wish/195578384 https://padlet.com/craig_hunter/bztqb4ca101y/wish/217252581 (Akinyange Vanessa)
Indigenous culture and its importance in psychiatric diagnosis remains an important concept for treatment of mental illnesses. The lecture on week 2 talked extensively on the inclusion of culture bond symptoms in diagnostic manuals like the DSM V and ICD-10 shows how important culture is diagnosis and most importantly treatment of mental illnesses. While such diagnostic materials attempt to be culturally sensitive, health practitioners still lack the training to distinguish between "normal" and "abnormal" patients. A good example is schizophrenia and hearing voices; in religious societies hearing Gods voice is seen as a privilege and honor but still seen as a key characteristic in the prognosis of the mental illness. A key question remains; how can culture be better incorporated into mental health services?]]> 2017-12-19 14:45:31 UTC https://padlet.com/craig_hunter/bztqb4ca101y/wish/217252581