Now we come to the next important issue: culture. Culture shapes us. We all come from different cultures, and culture influences how we think, how we talk, how we judge, and how we behave. But when it comes to caring for a person with a mental disorder, culture can become a problem if we allow it to control the way we give support. This is because different cultures have different attitudes toward mental disorders. Many of these attitudes are stereotypes. Many are wrong judgments. Many are prejudiced. Many are negative opinions that have been passed from one generation to another, even when they are not true.
And this is what we must understand: your culture should not dictate how you support someone with a mental disorder. If you are a caregiver, your job is to overcome cultural fears and cultural shame so you can provide care that is appropriate, respectful, and helpful. That is not only true for mental disorders, but for other illnesses too.
In some cultures, mental disorders are seen as something shameful. Some cultures believe the person did something wrong. Some say it is because of poor upbringing. Some say it comes from poverty. Some say the family is cursed. Some even say the person failed to fulfill certain cultural responsibilities, so the illness is punishment. These beliefs are common, but they are not medical truth. We have learned that mental disorders are linked to changes in the brain. They are medical conditions, and like other medical conditions, they need support, proper care, and treatment.
Culture also affects how people explain what they are feeling. Some people will not say, “I am depressed,” or “I feel anxious,” because their culture does not allow those words. Instead, they may describe physical symptoms. They might say, “I have a headache,” “I have a stomachache,” “I am tired,” or “my body is weak.” Sometimes those physical complaints may be real, but sometimes they are also how mental distress is expressed in a culture where talking about mental health is taboo. That is why caregivers need wisdom and awareness. Not to diagnose, but to notice patterns and encourage help.
In many cultures, mental health is not embraced. People fear stigma. They fear being judged. They fear being laughed at. They fear being rejected. So they delay seeking help. They hide. They keep suffering in silence. They stay inside the house without treatment. Some families will even hide someone with mental illness because they fear what the community will say. But hiding does not heal. Silence does not treat. And fear does not cure.
Culture also affects where people go for help. Some people, especially in Christian communities, may go for prayers only. Prayer can be helpful for spiritual strength, hope, and comfort. But prayer should not replace medical care when medical care is needed. Some people will say medication is for Western nations. Some will say hospital care is not for us. Some will prefer herbal remedies only. Some will avoid mental health professionals completely. But, let people pray if they want to pray. Let them go to church if that supports them. But also let them go to the hospital. Let them seek professional support. Let them take treatment seriously. Because mental disorders are not solved by hiding. They are not solved by shame. They are not solved by pretending.
If you want to support someone with mental illness, you must overcome what your culture has taught you that is wrong. Overcome stereotypes. Overcome stigma. Overcome prejudiced judgments. Overcome fear. Overcome shame. And then come out with truth and compassion. Do not lock people inside the house. Do not treat them like a disgrace. Do not treat them like they are less human. Support them, respect them, and guide them toward help.
Culture is powerful, yes. But culture should never be stronger than humanity. If culture blocks care, then culture must be challenged. If culture promotes stigma, then culture must be corrected. If culture makes families hide their suffering, then culture must be confronted. So I say again: do not allow culture to dictate how you treat and support people with mental disorders. Think about your culture, recognize where it is wrong, and overcome it—so you can provide good care and real support to your people.
And this is what we must understand: your culture should not dictate how you support someone with a mental disorder. If you are a caregiver, your job is to overcome cultural fears and cultural shame so you can provide care that is appropriate, respectful, and helpful. That is not only true for mental disorders, but for other illnesses too.
In some cultures, mental disorders are seen as something shameful. Some cultures believe the person did something wrong. Some say it is because of poor upbringing. Some say it comes from poverty. Some say the family is cursed. Some even say the person failed to fulfill certain cultural responsibilities, so the illness is punishment. These beliefs are common, but they are not medical truth. We have learned that mental disorders are linked to changes in the brain. They are medical conditions, and like other medical conditions, they need support, proper care, and treatment.
Culture also affects how people explain what they are feeling. Some people will not say, “I am depressed,” or “I feel anxious,” because their culture does not allow those words. Instead, they may describe physical symptoms. They might say, “I have a headache,” “I have a stomachache,” “I am tired,” or “my body is weak.” Sometimes those physical complaints may be real, but sometimes they are also how mental distress is expressed in a culture where talking about mental health is taboo. That is why caregivers need wisdom and awareness. Not to diagnose, but to notice patterns and encourage help.
In many cultures, mental health is not embraced. People fear stigma. They fear being judged. They fear being laughed at. They fear being rejected. So they delay seeking help. They hide. They keep suffering in silence. They stay inside the house without treatment. Some families will even hide someone with mental illness because they fear what the community will say. But hiding does not heal. Silence does not treat. And fear does not cure.
Culture also affects where people go for help. Some people, especially in Christian communities, may go for prayers only. Prayer can be helpful for spiritual strength, hope, and comfort. But prayer should not replace medical care when medical care is needed. Some people will say medication is for Western nations. Some will say hospital care is not for us. Some will prefer herbal remedies only. Some will avoid mental health professionals completely. But, let people pray if they want to pray. Let them go to church if that supports them. But also let them go to the hospital. Let them seek professional support. Let them take treatment seriously. Because mental disorders are not solved by hiding. They are not solved by shame. They are not solved by pretending.
If you want to support someone with mental illness, you must overcome what your culture has taught you that is wrong. Overcome stereotypes. Overcome stigma. Overcome prejudiced judgments. Overcome fear. Overcome shame. And then come out with truth and compassion. Do not lock people inside the house. Do not treat them like a disgrace. Do not treat them like they are less human. Support them, respect them, and guide them toward help.
Culture is powerful, yes. But culture should never be stronger than humanity. If culture blocks care, then culture must be challenged. If culture promotes stigma, then culture must be corrected. If culture makes families hide their suffering, then culture must be confronted. So I say again: do not allow culture to dictate how you treat and support people with mental disorders. Think about your culture, recognize where it is wrong, and overcome it—so you can provide good care and real support to your people.
