Language Is A Cultural Factor Social Work Essay Example

Language Is A Cultural Factor Social Work Essay This essay will analyze how issues of race and civilization are pertinent to mental wellness jobs and to service responses to minority communities. However, other hazard or causal factors will be considered which are indispensable in to the full understanding diagnosing, entree to services and results of mental wellness issues including poorness, racism and force against adult females. It appears that a combination of cultural, structural and individualist factors are linked to mental wellness issues and it will be highlight why an over focal point on race and civilization ( without sing other factors ) can be unsafe. Although single factors will non be discussed in this essay, their importance must be emphasised. Personal elements intersect with other factors ( structural and cultural ) lending to mental wellness jobs. Individual factors on their ain therefore are non plenty but need to be considered in combination with cultural and structural factors. This can be linked to Thompsons PCS Model which looks at Personal, Cultural and Structural issues in footings of anti oppressive pattern ( Thompson, 1997 ) . It can non be ignored that issues of race and civilization are highly relevant when sing mental wellness. However, this essay positions race as socially constructed, with small biological cogency as a hazard factor that to the full explains inequalities in wellness ( Bhui et al, 2005, p.496 ) . What is more executable and supported in surveies such as the EMPIRIC survey, is that race is a factor which can be a sociological hazard to persons which can be referred to as racial favoritism holding the possible to ensue in lower ego regard, fewer chances, and emphasis taking to mental wellness jobs ( Bhui et al, 2005 ) . In the UK racial favoritism does non merely mention to the term race as skin coloring material but besides incorporates cultural differences every bit good ( Bhui et al, 2005 ) . Therefore in this essay, when race is referred to as taking to mental wellness jobs ; it will be in footings of the account put frontward antecedently. We will write a custom essay sample on Language Is A Cultural Factor Social Work specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Language Is A Cultural Factor Social Work specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Language Is A Cultural Factor Social Work specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer It appears that race and civilization impact on diagnosing, entree to services and results. However, this position is based on research obtained in a short sum of clip it was merely in 1995 that detecting different cultural groups became obligatory in mental wellness services which are publicly funded ( Mind, 2012 ) . However this position is disputed by Glove and Evison ( 2010 ) who argue that differences in the form of mental wellness attention received by minority cultural groups in England have been noted since the 1960s and widely debated since the 1980s . Irrespective of this difference, both agree that research has identified differences between different cultural groups in diagnosing, intervention and handiness of services. A common designation in literature is that there are high rates of psychosis ( for illustration schizophrenic disorder ) amongst African Caribbean work forces and seemingly low rates of mental unwellness among South Asians ( NCSR, 2002 ) . Influential pieces of research placing these differences include the Count Me In nose count which began in 2005 and was created in support of the Department of Health s five twelvemonth program Delivering Race and Equality in Mental Health Care ( Mind, 2012 ) . The ultimate purpose was to cut down admittance rates, detainment and privacy amongst black and minority cultural groups ( Mind, 2012 ) . The nose count identifies that 22 % of 30,500 persons having in-patient attention were from minority cultural groups ( CQC, 2010 ) . It besides highlights that black work forces are more likely to be detained under the Mental Health Act and that black and black/white assorted race work forces are three times more likely to be admitted to psychiatric wards and had the highest admittance rate of all groups ( Mind, 2012 ) . CRITICISM The Fourth National Survey ( FNS ) of cultural minorities supports this to an extent. It identifies higher rates of psychosis diagnosing amongst Black Caribbean s compared t o white people ( Mind, 2012 ) . However, these differences are lower than old surveies have suggested. Surveies undertaken antecedently have suggested psychosis occurs largely amongst black Caribbean work forces nevertheless this survey suggests higher rates amongst black Caribbean adult females ( Mind, 2012 ) . Despite these figures, findings have besides suggested that Black African Caribbean and South Asiatic patients are less likely to hold their mental wellness jobs detected by a GP ( The Centre for Social Justice, 2011 ) . Black work forces have been found to be more likely to be admitted to psychiatric units via the Criminal Justice System ( CJS ) ( NMHDU, 2010 ) . The Count Me in nose count highlighted that Black Caribbean, Black African and White/Black Caribbean assorted groups are between 40 and 60 per cent more likely to be admitted via the CJS ( CQC, 2010 ) . In contrast to this, findings from the nose count identify that admittance rates among South Asiatic and Chinese groups have remained much lower ( below norm in many instances ) ( Care Quality Commission, 2011 ) . This is interesting, as other research has indicated that some specific subgroups of South Asiatic adult females ( ages 15-24 ) are at high hazard of completed self-destruction ( Raleigh, 1996 ) . Therefore, why ar e they non acquiring the necessary support from mental wellness services? The EMPIRIC survey considers white people as a comparing with Bangladesh, Black Caribbean, Irish, Indian and Pakistani groups ( Bhui et al, 2005 ) . This survey was undertaken in the community which is rather rare. It considers the impact of racial favoritism in the workplace ( Bhui et al, 2005 ) . The survey identified that Black Caribbean people reported the highest sum of occupation denial and Pakistanis the highest degree of abuse ( Bhui et al, 2005 ) . Bangladeshi, White and Irish people were found to be less likely to describe favoritism ( Bhui et al, 2005 ) . Discrimination in the workplace is common and is a hazard factor for common mental upsets ( Bhui et al, 2005 ) . The differences between each group in footings of Common Mental Disorders ( CMD ) were little and there were some fluctuations in footings of age and sex ( Bhui et al, 2005 ) . It found CMD were higher amongst Pakistani and Irish work forces ages 35-54 and higher rates amongst Indian and Pakistani adult females ages 55-74 ( Weich et al, 2004 ) . Common Mental Disorders were found to be lower in Bangladeshi adult females than white adult females which is interesting sing this group has the highest degree of socio economic want and the recognized nexus between poorness and mental wellness ( Weich et al, 2004 ) . There were no differences in rates between Black Caribbean and White people despite them enduring the most occupation denial and this identifies differences to findings from other key surveies which frequently identify higher rates of mental unwellness amongst black work forces in peculiar ( Weich et al, 2004 ) . Therefore this suggests this group may be more resilient or Black Caribbean people with CMD may hold been excluded from occupations ( Bhui et al, 2005 ) . The EMPIRIC survey really identifies that Black Caribbean adult females had more CMD than Black Caribbean work forces ( Bhui et al, 2005 ) and as findings from FNS besides suggest an country of concern for this group, it appears farther research should be undertaken. There are some unfavorable judgments on this survey being that what is perceived as racism does non ever impact on current employment experiences ( Bhui et al, 2005 ) . It does non see the fact that CMD may ensue in more people describing racial favoritism ( Bhui, 2005 ) . More long term and qualitative surveies may be good in understanding the impact of racial favoritism ( Bhui et al, 2005 ) . However, surveies undertaken late 1990s and early 2000 because there was a rise in concern sing this issue ( partly due tot the Rocky Bennett instance ) therefore the authorities commissioned this research due to these concerns. However, in recent old ages things have died down a spot hence less research is being undertaken so cognition is non developing and there is no support available for research workers. Despite this, research already carried out seems to follow suite in placing differences in the diagnosing, intervention and results of mental wellness for cultural groups, nevertheless these differences are non ever on par with each other and identify differences in themselves as already stated ( McLean et al, 2003 ) . It is of import to understand why fluctuations do be between cultural groups in footings of mental wellness which will be the focal point of the remainder of this essay. It can non be ignored that cultural factors doubtless play a function in the findings identified antecedently. Black and minority ethnic ( BME ) groups may talk in a manner which is considered different to white British persons or they may hold dissimilar idiosyncrasies. As a consequence, this may be interpreted wrongly which could later take to an wrong diagnosing of mental wellness issues ( Singh, 2006 ) . As stated western head-shrinkers are more likely to misinterpret behavior and hurt that is foreign to them as psychosis ( Singh, 2006 ) . Persons may be labelled as unusual or unusual because of cultural traits ( Singh, 2006 ) . Therefore, this identifies that a deficiency of apprehension of cultural differences may impact on readings. However, no affair what cultural developing people obtain, readings of behavior are ever traveling to change as civilizations are complex and continuously accommodating. Another statement associating to race and civilization and its nexus with mental wellness is that some cultural groups may non respond to western-type methods of covering with mental unwellness. For illustration, in Western society, psychopathology is viewed as an nonsubjective subject and hence the person having the support/therapy is separated from the healer ( Fernando, 2004 ) . It is likely that the healer will non cognize the person and will seldom hold any physical contact with them. As put frontward the healer learns the intervention and applies it within the overall medical theoretical account of covering with jobs as single unwellnesss, upsets or perturbations of what is assumed to be normal mental operation ( Fernando, 2004, p.121 ) . This manner of nearing mental wellness may be different to other civilizations for illustration where more religious methods of healing may be used ( Fernando, 2004 ) . As a consequence, certain cultural groups may non affect themselves in western methods for illustration traveling to see a General Practitioner ( GP ) . Koffman et Al ( 1997 ) found that in comparing to non-black groups, more black patients who had been admitted were non registered with a physician. This may be a consequence of different cultural methods of healing in which western patterns do non suit. However, civilization should non be considered as stationary or immobile it does and can accommodate and alter. It is of import to recognize that different civilizations can get down to complect with each other as civilizations may respond to the environment they are in contact with ( MDAA, 2012 ) . This identifies how it can be unsafe to concentrate excessively much on civilization which I will look into farther on in the essay. Language is a cultural factor which can impact on the right diagnosing and support for an person: both diagnosing and intervention are handicapped if there is no common linguistic communication between physician and patient ( Farooq and Fear, 2003, p.104 ) . Even when an translator is involved, they may non be trained in psychopathology which can restrict understanding and can hold a negative impact on interlingual rendition ( Farooq and Fear, 2003 ) . However, I would reason that at least if an translator is involved, they can bridge the linguistic communication barrier to a important extent. As argued patients in mental wellness services will see a better quality of attention when accessing translators ( Costa, 2011 ) . This is emphasised in the NICE Guidelines for GA, Schizophrenia, Depression and Dementia which puts forward that written stuff should be translated into different linguistic communications and translators should be used where appropriate ( ref ) . A mental welln ess professional that comes across a patient of a different civilization, who speaks a different linguistic communication, may non recognize the badness of their symptoms due to the cultural and linguistic communication differences ensuing in deficiency of support from services for illustration. Therefore if person nowadayss to their GP with symptoms these may be misinterpreted if an appropriate translator is non present. Therefore although many mental wellness scenes may utilize translators on a regular basis, others may non and the importance of this must be emphasised in order to work through issues of incorrect diagnosing, intervention and results of mental wellness. Although race and civilization are obviously pertinent to mental wellness jobs and service responses, it is necessary to see other factors as an accent on cultural issues can sanitise or dissemble other issues ( Chantler et al, 2002, p.649 ) . It seems that mental wellness services are concentrating on cultural differences and understanding cultural diverseness in an effort to get the better of the differences in diagnosing and support for different cultural groups. However, in their effort to make this they may really be disregarding other cardinal issues therefore potentially doing the state of affairs worse or at least keeping it. Some argue that there is an pressing demand to develop cultural competency among nurses and other attention workers if they are to run into the demands of the diverse populations they serve ( Papadopoulos, L and Tilki M and Lees S ) . However, professionals may non handle black people any otherwise merely because they are trained to be culturally co gnizant ( Fernando, 2004 ) . There are tonss of mentions to cultural competency in the Department of Health and NHS. The authorities scheme No Health Without Mental Health which replaced New Horizons in 2011 seems to concentrate on civilization but does non look to admit of import links between race and mental wellness. It is good known that there is a important nexus between poorness and mental wellness ( Chantler, 2011 ) . It appears that mental wellness societal work is get downing to go around around the bio medical theoretical account hence societal factors such as poorness are non focused on every bit much as they should ( Chantler, 2011 ) . It has been identified that societal exclusion can frequently be a consequence of poorness as a deficiency of fiscal agencies consequences in the poorer sectors of society being unable to affect themselves in social activities therefore ensuing in exclusion ( Gilchrist and Kyprianou, 2011 ) . Social exclusion/isolation can impact on mental wellness therefore poorness can be viewed as a hazard factor for mental wellness jobs ( Chantler, 2011 ) . Bing in the lowest societal category is frequently linked with poorness and this is something which spans across different ethnicities and civilizations. Therefore white, working category members of society may see mental wellness issues which are instigated as a consequence of poorness therefore race and civilization can non be viewed as the lone factors impacting on mental wellness other factors which can besides impact on white sectors must be recognised. However, black and minority cultural groups may happen it more hard to travel into higher categories as a consequence of issues such as racism and favoritism therefore may stay in low socioeconomic fortunes. This highlights a nexus between poorness and ethnicity and emphasises the concern that peoples race and civilization may ensue in them being forced into state of affairss which could increase their likeliness of mental hurt. It appears that there are two chief ways racism can impact on person s wellness: the immediate psychological and physical impact and the consequence of which different races and civilizations are non valued within society ensuing in societal exclusion and disadvantage ( Karlsen and Nazroo, 2000 ) . As argued racism, whether openly hostile or skulking in institutional civilizations and patterns, limits the chances and life picks persons make ( Gilchrist and Kyprianou, 2011, p.7 ) . Therefore, certain people of certain races or civilizations may experience mo re comfy staying in communities together due to racist favoritism or bias and as a consequence may non seek new life chances therefore potentially staying in hapless socioeconomic fortunes as a consequence of this forced exclusion ( Gilchrist and Kyprianou, 2011 ) . Similarly, favoritism and racism may ensue in less support within instruction spheres and less chances to stand out within employment circles ( Gilchrist and Kyprianou, 2011 ) . It has been recognised that unemployment has an impact on mental wellness ( Meltzer et al, 1995 ) . Findingss from the Fourth National Survey identify that four fifths of Pakistani and Bangladesh respondents, two-fifths of Indian and Caribbean respondents and one tierce of Chinese had incomes lower than half the distinct national norm recognised as poorness ( Karlsen and Nazroo, 2000 ) . This compares to one in four white respondents. Therefore, this may be the impact of racism, favoritism and disadvantage ( Karlsen and Nazroo, 2000 ) Therefore at that place seems to be a barbarous rhythm whereby BME groups feel the impact of structural subjugations ensuing in fewer chances to interrupt away from factors which can take to an increased hazard of mental wellness jobs, such as poorness. Therefore, arguably societal exclusion, poorness and category could be grounds why there are higher degrees of mental unwellness in some subcultures of South Asiatic adult females for illustration ( Karlsen and Nazroo, 2000 ) . The fact that communities stick together may ensue in farther hostility and segregation therefore ensuing in inappropriate support for mental wellness jobs as outsiders may non desire to irrupt in these civilizations they may take the attitude leave them to it which can be really unsafe. Therefore a combination of factors including category and poorness can underscore mental wellness issues. It seems that the function of racism as a hazard factor for mental wellness is being ignored or at least undermined by the alliance authorities. Although the No Health Without Mental Health scheme acknowledges the demand to see causal factors for mental wellness, it appears to pretermit to discourse the pertinent issue of racism/institutional racism which can be viewed as a ruin in response ( Watson, 2011 ) . Therefore, it neglects important links between race and mental wellness. This is emphasised in its a call to action papers, which does non include any BME administrations ( Vernon, 2011 ) . Pigeonholing of different groups refers to the favoritism of groups based on positions they are certain manner. So, South Asian groups may be viewed as holding tonss of household support and non believing in mental unwellness. This can be unsafe as it may ensue in services pretermiting to offer support to certain races or civilizations. Therefore, it appears that some mental wellness professionals may inherit positions sing racial stereotypes ( Fernando, 2004 ) . Another common racialist stereotype is that black work forces are unsafe which once more impacts on diagnosing and intervention. A good known illustration is that of Rocky Bennett. He was killed in 2004 in a medium secure psychiatric unit after being restrained by up to five nurses and an independent enquiry into this accepted that it was a consequence of institutional racism ( Athwal, 2004 ) . This is non a lone incident and has been recognised as an issue across mental wellness services. A concern which is shared by many i ncluding Richard Stone ( a member of the Bennett inquriy panel ) and Errol Francis ( a candidate on black mental wellness ) is that cultural/racial consciousness preparation will non cut down institutional maltreatment, it must be acknowledged and so the behavior of the professionals and workers demands to alter ( Athwal, 2004 ) . Once understood and acknowledged, advancement can be made to undertake and understand causes ( McKenzie, 2007 ) . McKenzie ( 2007 ) put frontward concern that the importance of Delivering Race Equality would be undermined, which seems to hold been the instance in No Health without Mental Health as it does non look to recognize the importance of racism as a hazard factor for mental wellness and the impact it has on service responses ( Watson, 2011 ) . Watson ( 2011 ) argues that the feeling given is that we are traveling to a post-racial large society where state multiculturalism is expunged from British values and public consciousness Thus the nexus is being undermined and if this is the instance it is improbable alterations will be made. Chantler et Al ( 2002 ) undertook a 10 month qualitative survey with a group of South Asiatic adult females who are subsisters of self injury or attempted self-destruction. It seems that subsister s highlighted issues doing mental hurt including in-migration position, poorness, and domestic force in their histories nevertheless an over focal point on cultural sensitiveness by professionals and policy shapers means that these factors frequently goes unrecognized ( Chantler et al, 2002 ) . Besides, of import to observe is that there does non look to be much research into the fact that if people are seeking refuge, there is a possibility that their mental wellness demands may be higher as a consequence of their experiences prior to migration ( Chantler, 2011 ) . As a consequence of deficiency of acknowledgment, inappropriate or a deficiency of support was offered by services. The research workers found that the subsisters who had been seeking refuge mentioned policies such as the one tw elvemonth regulation as doing them hurt and subjugation as it meant they were trapped ( frequently in an opprobrious relationship ) for a long period of clip without a opportunity of flight ( Chantler et al, 2001 ) . As stated, current in-migration statute law strips South Asiatic adult females of the legal and personal support available to white British female citizens ( Chantler et al, 2002 ) . The subsisters identified that they felt these policies ensured that all power was given to the adult male ( Chantler et al, 2002 ) . Policies implemented seeking to get the better of jobs in services by using South Asiatic workers demands to be looked into ( Chantler et al, 2002 ) . It seems that policy shapers used cultural clangs as accounts as to why issues such as domestic force, in-migration issues and poorness were non highlighted ( Chantler et al, 2002 ) . Therefore in theoretical accounts of mental wellness, factors such as in-migration are neglected. Servicess claimed to be una ble to run into their demands due to cultural struggle ( Chantler et al, 2002 ) . All but one of the subsisters in the survey had suffered domestic force placing the nexus between domestic force, in-migration position and suicide/self injury ( Chantler, 2001 ) . It is deserving observing that refugees and refuge searchers may hold experienced traumatic events before geting in the UK such as war and poorness therefore they may hold higher mental wellness demands because of their experiences this is non covered much in research and is something which may be good in our apprehension. Burman et Al ( 2005 ) focuses chiefly on domestic force services with respects to African, African-Caribbean, South Asian, Jewish and Irish adult females, it became apparent that civilization was seen to be more of import than covering with domestic force issues. Thus a focal point on civilization can be seen as an obstructor to offering the appropriate support ( Burman, 2005 ) . The survey besides identifies how other issues such as in-migration policies prevent refuge seeking adult females from being able to go forth opprobrious relationships hence this needs to see more ( Burman, 2005 ) . racialised dimensions of such policies heightens their exclusionary effects . The result of these findings suggests that there needs to be new ways of back uping adult females from minoritised groups enduring domestic force ( Burman, 2005 ) . Criticisms of survey? It seems that in favor of civilization, gender issues such as force against adult females are frequently ignored in relation to minority ethnicities ( Chantler, 2002 ) . Would this be the instance if it were white adult females? What is interesting is that force against adult females is considered a gender issue in relation to white adult females but is seen as a cultural issue in relation to South Asiatic adult females ( Chantler et al, 2002 ) . This is something which needs to be recognised and changed. Cultural factors need to be acknowledged to a grade and peculiarly in certain fortunes for illustration honor based force, nevertheless it needs to be recognised that civilization and race are non ever at the head of issues. It is of import to travel off from a complete focal point civilization in many cases, and see gender issues as good. Segregating adult females from minority groups from white adult females with respects to violence can take to miss of support therefore potential ly ensuing in ego harm/attempted suicide amongst other issues, as a consequence of the mental hurt. The research undertaken by Chantler et Al ( 2001 ) and Burman ( 2005 ) high spot this. Decision: As a societal worker it is of import to recognize cultural differences and be unfastened about civilization so that intercessions are non so hard nevertheless, although being culturally cognizant is utile, it is impossible to recognize all factors every bit cultural as there are legion different civilizations which are invariably accommodating. Besides, as this essay has identified, an over focal point on civilization can be unsafe. It is of import to be witting of other risk/causal factors of mental wellness such as force against adult females, category and in-migration position. It is indispensable label or stereotype person based on their race or civilization but instead engage, empower and sympathize with service users. As Chantlers 2001 survey identified, irrespective of a service users race or civilization, they frequently merely desire person to listen to them. Make non ever assume it is approximately civilization as policy has tended to make in recent old ages. It seems that a combination of structural, cultural and single factors including gender, poorness and civilization will enable a greater apprehension of diagnosing, intervention and results of mental wellness. Sing one without the other will restrict apprehension. Therefore, cognition demands to be more nuanced. I am non sabotaging the importance of race and civilization in relation to mental wellness and service responses, as I have acknowledged its importance in this essay. However, do non pretermit other every bit of import factors. Besides gender issues need to be considered for illustration domestic force. Why is domestic force considered cultural merely when related to certain ethnicities e.g south Asiatic adult females? ? SOME force offenses are specific to certain civilizations for illustration honor based force, trafficking ( UMHDU, 2010 ) However, all ethnicities within the uk experience gender based force non merely certain cultural groups and grounds suggests that force and maltreatment cause mental wellness issues ( UMHDU, 2010 ) . However it is sometimes merely seen as a gender issue when it is white adult females enduring maltreatment. Seen as a cultural issue when minority cultural group. Possibly it is nt a cultural issue but a gender issue? ? Research by Chantler et al many adult females from different ethnicities do nt advert culture/race in their survey merely reference maltreatment therefore possibly merely necessitate to see this? ? ?