Culture and Mental Health: Exploring Challenges and Resiliency for Diverse Communities - PowerPoint Presentation

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Culture and Mental Health: Exploring Challenges and Resiliency for Diverse Communities

The California MHSA Multicultural Coalition

September 30, 2015

Carlsbad, CA

Middle Eastern Communities

Middle Eastern is a geopolitical term that refers to a region of the world that includes both Arab and

non-Arab countries (i.e., Turkey, Iran, Israel)

Middle Eastern used

b

y itself is not an ethnicity, so

i

t’s important to identify specific ethnic background if using the term Middle Eastern to describe and approach communities; e.g.,

Arab; Turkish; or Iranian

How Many Countries Are There in the Arab World?

A. 9

B. 15

C. 22

Arab Diversity

The

Arab World stretches from northern Africa

to

western Asia, and Arabs are as diverse as the 22 countries

from where they come

D

istinct identities, such as Palestinian, Lebanese, Syrian, Iraqi, Egyptian (e.g., Christian Coptic), etc., define our communities

Although

there

is

a

majority

of Muslims in the Arab World,

many Arabs

are

Christians

of Catholic, Orthodox, or Protestant denominations

THE ARAB WORLD

Arabs have a shared sense of history

;

common values; and cultural heritage.

We are connected

by

the language of Arabic, which is spoken in slightly different dialects that vary from country to country, even region to region within countries.

Demographics

The

statewide Arab population, adjusting for under-reporting, is more than

817,000

(research by

Zogbi

International and the Arab American Institute)

California

is among the fastest

growing in Arab

populations in the

country

California has the largest Palestinian population in the U.S.

According

to the 2010 Census,

more than 1/3

of Arabs in the state have Lebanese or Egyptian

roots

There have been significant

increases

in

the number of Californians who are of Iraqi and Syrian

descent

Source

: 2005-2009 American Community Survey Rolling 5-Year Average – U.S. Census Bureau

©

2011 Arab American Institute Foundation

Top 5 California Counties With Arab Communities

(Listed in order of Arab Population Size)

Los Angeles County

San Diego County

Orange County

San Bernardino County

San Mateo County

Cultural Values

Family is the most important social and economic institution

The wellbeing of the community and that of the family are stressed over that of the individual

There is a strong respect for elders in Arab culture –

i

ndividuals gain status as they age and their advice and opinions become more valued and respected

Education, family businesses, generosity and hospitality are highly regarded

Resiliency Traits

There is a strong achievement orientation that results in success in the areas of business, technology, medicine and education

Successful community members give back, volunteering and providing financial support for community programs, scholarships, the underprivileged, etc.

Key Informant Interviews

While the extent of gender and generational roles are emphasized by the family/individual’s level of

acculturation,

for

many

immigrants

gender and generational roles are critically important in determining behavior.

One participant described the challenges faced by some Muslim refugee women who obtain housing in shelters:

“ They need a space to pray . . . and. . .  a private bathroom and may feel compelled

to

watch over their

female children

at night

.”

Parents worry about their children losing their connection to their culture of origin (enculturation), and the resulting acculturation gaps create

distance

between parents and

children.

Priority Issues Facing Arab Communities

Lack of access to culturally and linguistically competent community services is an ongoing concern

Delivery

of health, mental health, and social services to vulnerable populations such as women

(esp. respecting

importance of gender

relations/roles

); the elderly; undocumented and other out-of-status immigrants

Provision of legal services to address immigration-related matters and protect civil rights and liberties must be supported

Priority Issues, cont’d.

Some seniors live in isolation at home, due to lack of English skills and awareness of and connections to community resources.

They face challenges such as depression, stress about generational roles and level of acculturation, and lack of access to

healthcare.

Many immigrant community members, both young and old, are unaware of the health, social and legal services available to them; cannot access them due to language and cultural barriers; or are not comfortable seeking help outside of the

community.

Recent immigrants have endured complex traumas from homeland displacement, war/violence, and refugee

conditions.

Needs and Action Steps

Facilities for community services and youth activities are an important need and provide cultural resources such as language and traditional cooking classes, festivals, etc.

The

burden

on ethnic- and faith-based community organizations to conduct outreach and education to inform community members of available services and how to access them, as well as to build

trust, must be alleviated by support and partnership from counties.

T

raining

and internship programs

need to be supported to

address the shortage of culturally competent social workers directly serving low-income Arabs & others from the Middle East

Raja Mitry, M.A.

rmitry@sbcglobal.net