Cultural Lens on Mental Illness: Four Clients Share Their Perspectives |
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Authors: | Laurie Knis-Matthews Lynne Richard Michele Moccia Vishwa Patel Stephanie Salomone Leslie Stein |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Occupational Therapy , Kean University , Union , New Jersey lknis@kean.edu;3. Department of Occupational Therapy , Kean University , Union , New Jersey |
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Abstract: | People served by mental health providers represent diverse cultural groups. In-depth qualitative interviews were used to collect data to examine: “How do people, diagnosed with a mental illness, perceive their experience in a partial care mental health program from the perspective of their cultural context?” Four participants described cultural identities that included ethnic, health status, and sexual orientation identities. The participants' way of participating in the world was often in conflict with cultural values and expectations of the family and counselors. Cultural competence must include understanding how complex, multiple cultural contexts interact and influence a person's participation in the therapeutic process. |
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Keywords: | cultural competence cultural perspective mental health partial care programming |
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