The Impact of Culture on Mental Health 1 & 2
PSYCH 001: Introduction to Psychology
Overview
This is a 2-part assignment designed to help students to explore how culture can impact one's view of mental health and mental disorders. In part 1, students are invited to explore how culture impacts mental health, for example how mental disorders are regarding in different communities and the potential cultural stigmas regarding mental disorders and treatments. Using their own identified culture, students will explore how mental health & well-being are approached by that culture. In part 2, students will focus on a particular psychological disorder and how that disorder is perceived in their chosen culture. Students will provide a short write-up/recording of their findings and also create an infographic or visual targeted toward members of their culture.Students are encouraged to be creative in designing their visual and are also encouraged to create a multilingual visual, if appropriate.
Course Description
This course provides an introduction to the principles of human behavior, including the physiological foundations of behavior, influences of heredity and environment on psychological and behavional processes; sense-perception, attention, learning and personality; emotion and motivation; development across the life span, and psychological disorders and methods of therapy. No credit if taken after PSYC 001H. Total of 54 hours lecture. Transfer Credit: CSU; UC; C-ID: PSY 110
The impact of culture on Mental Health: A two-part assignment
This is a 2-part assignment designed to help students to explore how culture can impact one's view of mental health and mental disorders. Either part can be a standalone assignment or both parts may be given together as part of a larger research project.
In part 1, students are invited to explore how culture impacts mental health, for example how mental disorders are regarding in different communities and the potential cultural stigmas regarding mental disorders and treatments.Students will select their own cultural identity and then explore how mental health & well-being are approached by that culture.
In part 2, students will select a psychological disorder from a short, pre-selected list of disorders and then explore how that disorder is perceived in their chosen culture. Students will provide a short write-up/recording and also create an infographic or visual targeted to members of their culture.Students are encouraged to be creative in designing their visual and are also encouraged to create a multilingual visual, if appropriate.
The Impact of Culture on Mental Health: Part 1
The Impact of Culture on Mental Health: Part 1
Purpose
In our module on Psychological Disorders and Treatments, you have explored several different psychological disorders, their etiologies (causes or theories about their origins), as well as mental health in general.
In this assignment, you will explore how culture can impact a person’s views of mental health / mental disorders, treatment of mental disorders, and the overall stigma regarding psychological disorders.
This is a 2-part assignment.
Directions for Part 1
STEP 1: Please read the following articles:
Mental Health First Aid from the National Council For Mental Wellbeing:
4 ways culture impacts mental health
National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI):
Identity & Cultural Dimensions
STEP 2: Identify your culture
For this assignment, you will need to select a culture that you personally identify with.
"Culture" can be defined as "the distinctive customs, values, beliefs, knowledge, art, and language of a society or a community."
Your "cultural identity" may be your race, gender, or ethnicity BUT your cultural identity can ALSO be:
- your background (e.g. veteran, first generation college student, etc.)
- your group membership (for example, musicians, athletes, being a parent)
- your sexuality (etc. LGBTQ+)
- your religious affiliation
It is up to you to decide what your "cultural identity" is for this project.
STEP 3: How does your cultural identity impact your own views on mental health/mental illness?
Once you have selected your culture, consider how that cultural identity impacts your own views on mental health in a 2 page paper or 8 minute video recording.
Your 2-page paper/ or 8-minute video must answer the following questions:
1. What cultural identity have you chosen to identify with for this project and why did you select this culture?
2. How is mental health/illness viewed in your chosen culture? Is there a stigma regarding psychological disorders and treatment? Provide your opinion on why you think your culture view mental health/illness this way.
3. Are there resources available for understanding mental health/illness in your culture? If there are resources, give an example or two.
4. Do you feel that your own personal views of mental health/illness are similar (align with) with the views of mental health/illness in your culture? Why or why not?
Important Information
- Your paper/video is meant to be an opinion piece; please feel free to express yourself! I want you to reflect on and be honest in your answers.
- You do NOT need to cite sources, but you can if you want to.
If you are writing a paper:
- Your paper should be double-spaced, 12 point font, in Times New Roman or Arial, with no larger than 1 inch margins. MLA or APA format is fine.
- There is no word count but you should have two full pages - this means 1 full page and at least 3/4 of the 2nd page should contain writing.
- You MAY write more than 2 pages if you wish.
If you are recording a video:
- Videos should be 8 minutes. If you are a little over, that is ok too.
- You may want to review your video to make sure sound is clear.
Upload your 2-page write up/8 minute video to Canvas.
The Impact of Culture on Mental Health: Part 2
The Impact of Culture on Mental Health - PART 2
Purpose
In our module on Psychological Disorders and Treatments, you were introduced to several different psychological disorders, their etiologies (causes or theories about their origins), as well as mental health in general.
In this assignment, you will explore how a particular disorder is viewed by your chosen cultural community and create an informative project that could be used to educate other individuals within your cultural community about the disorder.
This project is Part 2 of the Impact of Culture on Mental Health
______________________________________
Directions for Part 2
STEP 1: Pick ONE disorder from any of the following categories to learn more about in the context of your own cultural identity (use the same culture you identified with in Part 1 of this assignment).
Mood Disorders category
- Major Depressive Disorder
- Postpartum Depression
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder
- Social Anxiety Disorder
- Bipolar Disorder
Eating Disorders
- Anorexia Nervosa
- Bulimia Nervosa
- Binge Eating Disorder
Schizophrenia
PTSD
Autism Spectrum Disorder
STEP 2: Find 3 articles on your disorder.
- Your articles do NOT have to be academic journal articles BUT should be from reputable sources with a peer review/editorial process, such as: the American Psychological Association, NAMI, National Council For Mental Wellbeing.
- You should try to find a least 1 article that discusses your chosen disorder in the context of your culture identity.
STEP 3: Using information from your articles, please create the following:
- A 1-page summary of how the disorder is viewed within your culture, any stigmas surrounding the disorder, and resources available to someone from your culture with the disorder.
Important Information:
- Your summary paper should be 1 page total, double-spaced, 12 point font, in Times New Roman or Arial, with no larger than 1 inch margins.
- On a separate page, include your references in APA format.
- A quick 1-page “at a glance” visual, such as an infographic, that could be used to educate other individuals within your cultural community about the disorder.
Important Information:
- Your visual should Include the following information:
- Very brief description of the disorder (including what it is commonly called in your culture)
- Prevalence of the disorder within your chosen culture
- Risk Factors - make sure to include any risk factors that are culturally relevant.
- Resources to help someone from your culture experiencing that particular disorder.
- Your visual can be creative but should be in the style of an infographic.
- You may also make your visual multilingual! (1 language must be English though).
- For more information about inforgraphics (what they are, how to make one), check out: What is an infographic and how do I create one?
- You can also use Microsoft Powerpoint's infographic template or Google Slides infographic templates. If you use these, please save the final visual product in a pdf. format.