Abstract

AbstractThis chapter draws on a detailed transgenerational case study, the story of ‘Masimbo’, which involves migration, to highlight the conceptualisation and journey of mental illness within an African cultural perspective. In Masimbo’s story, African understandings of mental disorder are side-lined by Western approaches with untoward consequences for him and his family. The implication that is drawn from this, however, is not that African perspectives should replace Western approaches but rather that they should be used together. Thus, Masimbo’s story is illuminated with comments woven in from both an African (Yoruba traditional conceptualisation) and a systemic psychotherapy perspective. This shows how respecting both perspectives is possible and preferable from a person-centred point of view as different narratives/understandings are foregrounded and backgrounded like a tapestry, promoting an approach in which mental illness and the nuances that culture brings, is appreciated and worked with. We conclude with a reflection on the nature of storytelling as mythopoetry within African culture and its role in bridging between perspectives in mental health.

Highlights

  • Service users from the African diaspora consistently receive poorer mental health outcomes in the UK

  • We have shown through the story of Masimbo and his family the importance of adopting an approach to mental health care that has the flexibility to combine Western and African traditions of thought and practice

  • Displaced from his ancestral Zimbabwe to the UK as a young boy, Masimbo, who is rather shy and lacking in confidence, falls into a depression that proves resistant to treatment

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Summary

11.1 Introduction

Service users from the African diaspora consistently receive poorer mental health outcomes in the UK. A deeper delve into culture, migration history, religion, acculturative stress and trauma is required to understand how mental illness is conceptualised and responded to by many African diaspora individuals. This deep dive is often ignored or dismissed in the West, resulting in individuals from the diaspora receiving treatment that falls short of their needs. Comments are provided from all three of us as authors, respectively, a service user and former carer (Tutiette Thomas), an African healer and storyteller (Sola Adebiyi), and a systemic psychotherapist (Temitope Ademosu). Promoting an approach in which mental illness and the nuances that culture brings is appreciated and worked with

11.2 Narrative History
12 Tatenda
11.2.1 Values Arising in the Story
11.2.2 The Influences of Culture on the Story
11.3 Storytelling as Healing in African Culture and Beyond
11.4 Conclusions
11.5 Guide to Further Sources

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