Theme 3: Cultural Issues

Cromby, Harper & Reavey (2012) Culture is the process by which ordinary activities acquire emotional and moral meaning for participants.

Tse, Tang & Kan (2015) Culture is not a homogeneous concept. Culture and the concept of patient involvement will be interpreted differently in different communities. People in rural areas in mainland China, for example, where mental health resources are scarce and the shame and blame associated with mental illness prevail, are likely to have quite different ideas than British born. In Chinese culture, respect for authority is a valued concept. Psychiatrists are often regarded as authority figures; this respect for authority may thus maintain the hierarchy of a health-specific social structure. The notion of passivity is associated with the person's passive role as a ‘mental patient.’ Perceiving oneself to be in a powerless position can reduce one's motivation to participate in decision making.

Cromby et al (2013) teenager in Japan hearing voices interpreted as ‘fox possession’ and treated by a shaman to understand the nature of it and establish harmony with the fox spirit. A woman in Peru may be treated with a healing ritual…