Culturally Relevant Psychiatric Care: The West Indian as a Client

Abstract

Cultural sensitivity is essential to the provision of quality mental health intervention. West Indian culture, including belief systems,familypatterns, child-rearing practices, racial mixtures, and geography, influences the presentation of and perceived causes of symptoms in mentally ill persons, who are natives of the Eastern Caribbean Islands. Parenthood and childbearing beliefs and practices are discussed in relationship to their influences on the psychosocial development of the West Indianfamily. Salient cultural norms, mores,folkways, and habits are presented in relationship to the impact on clients presenting psychopathology. For example, the effects of child-rearing practices on the clients' hesitation to verbalize personal concerns are addressed, as well as the role and importance of the mental health professional. Cultural diversity requires the effective clinician to approach clients with an attitude of cultural relativity. The provision of mental health intervention to Eastern Caribbean natives involves understanding cultural traits and coping mechanisms that are prevalent in West Indian culture. Concerted effort on the clinician's part may be required to overcome egocentristic feelings and behavior which otherwise would interfere with culturally relevant and effective intervention.