Cultural Skills in Behavioral Health Settings

Introduction Cultural diversity can be found in every aspect of lives and society. We all have it and it exists everywhere. Cultural diversity might serve as an obstacle or advantage depending on the nature of dynamics it is involved in. This document will explore the Cultural Skills in Behavioral Health Settings.

Discussion

Diversity in the Culture

Culture refers to the communal way of values, life, language, morals, world visions, and demeanors of behavior of the community (Jeffreys, 2010, pp. 497). It demonstrates thinking, life style, potentials, and expectations of people. Exploring the cultural diversity, I came across a lot of cultures. USA is an artifact of an exceptional blend of reputable customs and traditions. USA is one of the most multicultural countries on the globe. Current USA is home to individuals from a broad range of traditions. The multiculturalism of USA is strengthened by respect for all traditional values. Individuals arriving in USA are called upon to celebrate and continue with their respective cultures within an extensive aura of cultural freedom.

There are some obvious manifestation of culture, theses includes Religion, National Origin (language), Ethnicity (Race), Communities, Values, Sects, Casts, thinking patterns, communication styles etc. However there also exists some less obvious manifestations that play equally critical role in the every aspect of life including healthcare, these includes: gender orientation, age, educational status, mobility (handicaps). To explore, understand and work according to these manifestations brings out the desired consequences in almost every aspect of life like business, family, schools etc. Same goes with healthcare.

Special Populations and Special Need

Even though girls and women encompass more than fifty percent of the total population, they continue to be disadvantaged in numerous dimensions of life including healthcare. Stereotypes and suppositions regarding women's lives can wrongly hinder them and may recurrently demoralize equality. Access of women to customary and formal healthcare systems remains limited and insufficient enforcement methods persist to be of vital concern. Particular obstacles based on gender, thwart women from reaching and seeking out to healthy ways of life whereby they know their legal rights in relation with health and safety. Obstructions to sex impartiality maneuvers in two extensive conducts: obstacles in the content of decrees and limitations of access to authorized associations and justice through them.

In spite of the recognition of cultural impacts on psychological and emotional health. the niche of psychology is remorseful of cultural malpractice with obvious ethnic/racial minorities, resulting from unintended bias due to cultural ignorance or mis-information. The long lasting outcomes of cultural malpractice has led to mis diagnosis and pathologizing of culturally varied people usually due lo dependence on prevalent stereotypes and social misconceptions (like opinion of poor women of color as owning low self-worth) (Byars-Winston,2004).

Similarly, Lesbian, gay, and bisexual people suffer due to the intolerant behaviors people have towards them. This ultimately affects their ways of life, how they approach to healthcare and other facilities provided to all civilians. Homosexuality, is still regarded as a taboo and hence people in these ...