Finding Mental Health Care that Fits Your Cultural Background

What Is Cultural Background?

Culture is a particular group’s beliefs, customs, values and way of thinking, behaving and communicating. Cultural background affects how someone:

• Views mental health conditions
• Describes symptoms
• Communicates with health care providers such as doctors and mental health professionals
• Receives and responds to treatment

What Is Cultural Competence?

Cultural competence is the behaviors, attitudes and skills that allow a health care provider to work effectively with different cultural groups. Finding culturally competent providers is important because they understand the essential role that culture plays in life and health. A culturally competent provider includes cultural beliefs, values, practices and attitudes in your care to meet your unique needs.

Tips For Finding A Culturally Competent Provider

Research Providers

• Contact providers or agencies from your same cultural background or look for providers and agencies that have worked with people who have a similar cultural background.
• Ask trusted friends and family for recommendations.
• Look online or ask for referrals from cultural organizations in your community.
• If you have health insurance, ask the health plan for providers that fit your cultural background.

Ask Providers These Questions

• Are you familiar with my community’s beliefs, values and attitudes toward mental health? If not, are you willing to learn about my cultural background and respect my perspective?
• Do you have experience treating people from my cultural background?
• Have you had cultural competence training?
• Are you or members of your staff bilingual?
• How would you include aspects of my cultural identity, such as age, faith, gender identity or sexual orientation, in my care?

Other Things You Can Do

• Tell the provider about traditions, values and beliefs that are important to you.
• Tell the provider what role you want your family to play in your treatment.
• Learn about your condition, particularly how it affects people from your culture or community.
• Look around the provider’s office for signs of inclusion. Who works there? Does the waiting room have magazines, signs and pamphlets for you and your community?