Ways in which culture is addressed in systemic practice Yvonne Ayo 16th M

1. Ways in which culture is addressed in systemic practice Yvonne Ayo 16th March 2010 yayo@tavi-port.nhs.uk

2. Child Mental Health 1 in 5 children and adolescents experience the signs and symptoms of a recognised disorder during the course of a year. The most frequent symptoms are: Conduct disorders (antisocial behaviours) Depression Anxiety disorders (phobias, panic attacks) (Audit Commission, 1999)

3. Reasons for Referrals to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Family separation Parenting School refusal Sleeping difficulties Eating Inappropriate, disturbed or out of control behaviour Self harm or substance misuse Problems with peers Problems with siblings Restlessness and poor concentration Fears and obsessions Symptoms or effects of chronic illness Coping with physical illness

4. What is systemic thinking ? Looking at relationships and communication between people Looking at belief systems and meanings Thinking about contextual issues/life cycle stages. Thinking about culture, ethnicity of clients.

5. Gathering information Dates of birth,marriages,separation, illness, death (including cause) Sibling position Ethnicity, class, religious background. Changes in class via education, income, marriage. Occupation, professions. Who lives with whom, who used to live with whom. Relationships – closeness, distance, conflict. Behaviours – emotional, medical, mental illness. Generational patterns of functioning – alcoholism, violence, physical symptoms, suicide.