How is substance use viewed in the Hispanic/Latino culture?
Norms and values in the Latino culture promotes abstinence from substance use especially amongst women but are lenient on men due to the belief in the ability to engage in responsible alcohol and nicotine use while proportioning it to low health risks. Latino society views women as prone to the exposure to deteriorating physical and mental health hence a manifestation of immorality and lack of responsibility. The view changes with the increase in the movement of Hispanics from their places of origin to the US.
Hispanics who move into the US are more likely to indulge in drug abuse than those that remain at home. Despite the discouraging paradigm of Latino culture, the implications of immigration such as racial discrimination, persecution, deportation, estrangement from relatives, and low employment rates encourage the use of drugs as an escape. In this case, drugs are used to manage the depression and anxiety experienced in this population out of the challenging situations that they encounter in unfamiliar environments. In the US, acculturative stress emanating from language barriers, restriction of movement, and low income status encourage drug use (Moreno et al, 2017).
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What healthy family and community support conditions are associated with increased self-efficacy and self-esteem in children of color who face racism?
The community support strategies that increase the self-efficacy and self-esteem focus on improving the behavior, positive identity, and academic performance of children of color. The family acts as a medium to mitigate the race-related disparities that may influence existent negative self-worth amongst individuals that face racism. By addressing contextual factors such as health status, economic capability, and educational ability, communities reduce the risk factors that may expose their children to low self-esteem due to discrimination.
As a basic unit of the society, the family plays a major role in preparing a child of color to face the stereotypical misconceptions placed as a result of color difference (Chao et al, 2014). With the knowledge of negative social perception by these children, protective mechanisms such as socialization through ethnic pride and preparation to positive reaction to discrimination. Such steps ensure that the children grow up with a positive identity mindset and increase their cognitive competence. Most school going children are encouraged to engage actively in classroom settings so as to triumph over the social perception placed in the mindset of the society
How do racial, social, political, and religious attitudes affect the counselor’s perception and treatment of clients? How could the Christian worldview/chosen religious beliefs help with providing treatment to diverse populations?
Due to the increased shift in the multicultural paradigm of the counselling profession, a counselor should be aware of their preexistent attitudes so as to ensure productive outcomes (Jafari, 2016). For instance, if a counsellor views a white person as socially privileged in the community, they may offer inadequate solutions to their mental health concerns. Furthermore, a counsellor that carries liberal views may fail to experience empathy with a patient that has conservative tendencies. In regards to religion, the belief system of a counselor may hinder progress to a client that may be an atheist and therefore, using biblical references will not appeal to a positive mental health outcome.
However, the Christian worldview may help in proving treatment to a diverse population through the application of the biblical wisdom to the process without necessarily quoting the verse. In a multicultural sense, Christianity binds people regardless of racial background and therefore, breaks down the boundaries that may preexist due to the different individualized attitudes.
Explain how mental health and addiction therapy are viewed in various cultures. Give at least two examples.
Therapy involves the provision of personal information to the client in order to help them improve their mental health (Owen et al., 2014). In the Latino culture, provision of personal information to a person regarded as a stranger is frowned upon and therefore, it is hard to use this information to treat the patient. Furthermore, it is an embarrassment to the family which is preconceived to have failed to help a member in dealing with their mental issues. Therefore, culturally sensitive strategies include the use of a therapist who is of Latino origin in the process of treatment. On the other hand, the counsellor should partake in activities that build trust so as to create a comfortable environment that increases the individual’s willingness to participate.
Many people view therapy as an admission towards vulnerability which the African American community disregards. The stigmatizing view discourages treatment of depression and anxiety despite the increased stressors of social prejudice and racial discrimination on the basis of color. With mental illness as a taboo even in social discussions, most individuals end up suppressing their need leading to deteriorating mental health. These cultural perception s can be discarded the raising awareness on the grave outcomes of ignoring mental health disorders and the creation of affordable treatment plans to increase access.
References
Chao, R. C., Longo, J., Wang, C., Dasgupta, D., & Fear, J. (2014). perceived racism as moderator between self-esteem/shyness and psychological distress among African Americans. Journal of Counseling & Development , 92 (3), 259–269
Jafari, S. (2016). Religion and spirituality within counselling/clinical psychology training programmes: A systematic review. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 44 (3), 257–267
Moreno, O., Janssen, T., Cox, M. J., Colby, S., & Jackson, K. M. (2017). Parent-adolescent relationships in Hispanic versus Caucasian families: Associations with alcohol and marijuana use onset. Addictive Behaviors , 74, 74–81
Owen, J., Jordan, T. A., II, Turner, D., Davis, D. E., Hook, J. N., & Leach, M. M. (2014). Therapists’ multicultural orientation: client perceptions of cultural humility, spiritual/religious commitment, and therapy outcomes. Journal of Psychology & Theology, 42( 1), 91–98
