Addressing Barriers to Learning: Culture-Specific Mental Health Issues

1. Addressing Barriers to Learning:Culture-Specific Mental Health Issues Aitza Galarza-Hernandez Rebecca McSwain Elizabeth Uzcategui

2. OBJECTIVES • Discuss Diversity Issues • Describe Mental Health Concerns Related to Diverse Populations • Discuss School-based Intervention Ideas

3. Video Clip • The Danger of the Single Story

4. What do you know about Native American Culture? Form small groups of 4-5 participants Choose one person to record answers Group shares what they know of the given cultural group

5. Native American Cultural Strengths Collectivistic Resiliency Orientation to Nature Resourcefulness Wisdom of Family/Tribal Elders Communication

6. What do you know about African-American Culture? Form small groups of 4-5 participants Choose one person to record answers Group shares what they know of the given cultural group

7. African American Cultural Strengths Collectivistic Family-Oriented (Extended & Nuclear) Racial Pride Important Role of Elders Religious Orientation

8. What do you know about Asian Culture? Form small groups of 4-5 participants Choose one person to record answers Group shares what they know of the given cultural group

9. Asian Culture Strengths Collectivistic Important role of elders Resiliency Family-oriented (includes the deceased) Considered the “Model Minority” -Double-edged sword

10. Form small groups of 4-5 participants Choose one person to record answers Group shares what they know of the given cultural group What do you know about Hispanic culture?

11. Hispanic Culture Strengths Collectivistic, Cooperative Learning Styles Bilingual/Bicultural Abilities Family-Oriented Resiliency Strong Religious Beliefs Tradition-Oriented Emphasis on Interpersonal Relationships

12. Prevalent Mental Health Issues: Native American Culture Asian Culture African American Culture Hispanic Culture

13. Mental Health Issues in American-Indian Cultures Alcoholism: ADHD, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Suicide: Major Depressive Disorder Victims of trauma: PTSD Homelessness: Numerous mental health issues Utilization of Mental Health Services: More likely to use inpatient services More likely to use school-based services Traditional healers provide many services

14. Prevalent Mental Health Issues Hispanic Culture Anxiety-related behavioral problems Depressive symptoms and distress Increased drug use Increased suicidal ideation Culture-bound syndromes such as “susto” (fright), “nervios” (nerves), “mal de ojo” (evil eye), and “ataque de nervios” (screaming uncontrollably, crying, trembling, verbal or physical aggression, dissociative experiences, seizure-like or fainting episodes, and suicidal gestures) Adjustment Disorders (differences betweeen home environment and the world they function in)

15. Prevalent Mental Health Issues African American Culture Alcohol-Drug Abuse Prone to conduct disorders Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD) Depression Aggressiveness Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Less likely to seek/receive mental health services Socioeconomic status placed them at risk for mental health problems

16. Prevalent Mental Health Issues Asian American Culture Least likely to seek help for mental health disorders due to values self-reliance, reservation, and fear of shaming the family. Difficulty accessing mental health treatment due to language issues. Increased risk for depression Social anxiety/fears High rates of suicide

17. Prevalent Mental Health Issues Asian American Culture Culture-bound Syndromes (anxieties experienced as physical symptoms) Shenjing Shuairuo: stress related and experienced as pain, numbness, fatigue, and fainting. Hwa-Byung “fire illness, supressed anger”: Korean folk illness experienced as heavy feeling in chest, sleeplessness, flushing, palpitations, and blurred vision.

18. What are your experiences?

19. Clips from The Office

20. School Interventions Although teachers are not mental health services providers, they do play a vital role in supporting students’ mental wellness and helping to identify and support students who may have a mental health problem. Specific recommendations are:

21. School Interventions Learn as much as possible about the cultural and linguistic background of the students you teach. Acknowledge that within culture differences are as important as differences between cultures. Allow students to share their thoughts, ideas and feelings through the use of cooperative groups, dialogue journals and other forms of interactive learning. Enhance students’ self-image, motivation and cultural prode by using culturally-relevant materials. Invite parents and families to actively participate in their children’s education.

22. School Interventions (cont.) Beware that families from diverse linguistic or cultural backgrounds may not initiate requests for help or use in-school resources available to address mental health issues. Small sessions to provide orientation in regards the available resources will be necessary. Seek help from the resources in your building (i.e, school counselor, social worker, mental health worker, or school psychologist). Small group activities on self-efficacy and study skills. Partnering with”like-minded peers”.

23. Strategies to Enhance Home-School Collaboration Regular and positive communication with parents and/or guardians. Emphasize strengths. Empower the parent (e.g., seating arragement free of barriers, ask open-ended questions during conferences, and ask for parents impressions of the situation at hand.

24. Questions, Comments, Concerns

25. Resources American Psychiatric Association. (2010). Asian American/Pacific Islanders. (http://www.healthyminds.org/More-Info-For/Asian- AmericanPacific-Islanders.asp) Mental Health: Culture, Race, Ethnicity Fact Sheets-Asian Americans. Department of Human Services. (http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/cre/fact2.asp). Villalba, Jose A. (2008). School Mental Health Project: Addressing Cultural Diversity in School Mental Health. SEHAC, Wilmington, North Carolina. Williams, Barbara Bole (2006). Culturally Competent Mental Health Services in the Schools: Tips for Teachers. (http://www/nasponline.org/culturalcompetence/index.html.