An article focussing on some of the most important aspects of culture and some of the most common effects that culture is likely to have on the mental illness of students at the different academic levels. 

Cultures have a significant impact on students’ mental illness. Unfortunately, most people have the wrong perception that mental illness is a personal issue and that it only affects a single person. Well, the truth is that mental illness is significantly influenced by a combination of social and cultural factors. The influence of culture on students’ mental illness often goes ignored. One of the exciting elements of the society is in regards to the diversity of the cultures and the background of the people residing there. As a society, we always expect those people suffering from mental illness to accept themselves. Regrettably, we often underestimate the impact culture has on accepting mental health in society.

The truth is that most students are on the verge of giving up their academic lives because of issues surrounding mental illness. Parents of the children affected with mental health issues should take them to residential mental health treatment for teens. It is essential to note that different societies have varying social and cultural norms. Researchers believe that the culture of a particular group of people is usually intergenerational. Hence, it is generally defined as a set of beliefs or behaviors that govern a specific group of people. Cultures are typically defined by the shared experiences as well as the beliefs of the people living within them. Students’ mental illness is significantly influenced by their experiences and the manifestation of their cultural and social background. All these factors can significantly impact how the student communicates their sickness, symptoms, understanding of the disease, and coping strategies.

Cultural beliefs and mental illness

Generally, the majority of the students often find it challenging to seek academic assistance, especially when they are sick. Sometimes, sickness often deprives people of the opportunity or ability to express themselves. A person can be frustrated and become even more depressed when the assignments keep on piling, yet they are unwell. The advancement in technology has made it possible for students to seek assistance from any location as long as they have a phone or a laptop and a secured internet connection. Therefore, students are always encouraged to seek assistance from custom writing companies such as Peachy Essay. Whenever you are having any form of difficulty, you should never hesitate to ask for help from the right people and places.

Describing symptoms

Communication plays a significant role in addressing issues of mental illness, especially among students. Different people will have varying modes of communication-based on their culture. In most cases, people from the same culture tend to behave in a particularly common way. Apparently, culture can significantly impact how individuals describe as well as express their symptoms. On the same note, it can immensely affect whether an individual decides to express and talk about their emotional and physical symptoms. On the contrary, it is essential to note that culture can also make people freer when addressing their symptoms and what they are experiencing. Therefore, nurses and other healthcare practitioners should be taught how to deal with people from different cultures, especially when it comes to issues such as mental illness.

Community support

Different cultures have varying ways of supporting each other. On a similar note, the support accorded to a particular community member is usually significantly dependent on the level of information the members have regarding a particular illness. Some cultures regard certain illnesses as curses or generational diseases. It is difficult for community members to support a sick person when they have negative beliefs regarding certain illnesses. Therefore, there is no doubt that culture significantly influences students` mental illness. This is because it impacts the level of support the sick person gets from the family, relatives, friends, and community in general. As a result of the stigma, people are left to look for mental treatment by themselves in most cases.

Expressing yourself 

As mentioned above, people from different cultures have varying beliefs and behaviors. In most cases, culture usually defines how people will seek medical assistance, cope with mental illness, and share their concerns. On the same note, culture significantly defines whether the sick person will visit a primary care practitioner, a psychiatrist, social worker, a traditional healer, or a psychologist. A good example entails the Asian groups, where they have portrayed the habit of maintaining silence and avoiding disturbing thoughts. They do not believe that it is right for an individual to express their personal problems. On the other hand, the African Americans have a slightly common but different culture from that of the Asians. The African Americans tend to deal with their personal problems individually or turn to spiritually for their support. Notably, cultural factors significantly affect the number of support families and the community offer to sick people. Mental illness issues cannot be ignored for long since they have disastrous impacts on an individual and community level. In essence, culture plays an essential role as it affects how people seek medical assistance and the amount of support they get from their families, relatives, and community.

Culture impacts the available resources

As mentioned above, communication plays an essential role in the healthcare sector. On a similar note, various cultures have different ways of addressing issues regarding mental illness. Unfortunately, for the majority of cultures, individuals who have mental illness are usually stigmatized. In some cultures, mental illness is considered a thing that should remain hidden. When a student has a mental illness, they want to open up to someone and share their concerns with them. Sometimes, it is challenging to locate healthcare facilities that consider cultural factors regarding mental illness.

Mental illness is an issue that affects many countries in various parts of the world. Apparently, it cannot be left hidden or undressed since it negatively impacts the overall quality of life. There is no doubt that different cultures have varying ways of dealing with cases regarding mental illnesses. However, school administrators should develop ways of addressing incidents of mental illnesses among the students before the cases reach uncontrollable levels.