Midwifery, Nursing & Primary health care

Gihane Endrawes

Western Sydney University, Australia

Abstract Title: Cultural perspectives on mental health: A study design

Biography:

Gihane has more than 20 years of experience in mental health nursing practice and education. She worked as a Transcultural Mental Health Clinical Nurse Consultant, during which, she coordinated a number of projects addressing consumers’ care and satisfaction. She won 2 nursing achievement awards due to her contribution to mental health nursing. At her current role as lecturer at Western Sydney University, Australia she coordinated a number of under-graduate and post-graduate units and is involved in the development and review of curriculum. Her role also includes supervision of higher degree research students and her research interests are in the area of mental health, transcultural nursing, evidence-based practice and nursing education which are reflected in her publications

Research Interest:

Mental illness is on the rise worldwide. It is estimated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that 1 in 4 people has or will have a mental illness sometime throughout their lives. However, there is evidence suggesting that due to the stigma and negative societal attitudes towards mental illness and people with mental illness, it prevents many people from seeking professional mental health help. This paper addresses societal attitudes towards mental illness cross-culturally, such as the belief in evil eye, spirit possession, magic and misperceptions related to mental illness. Societal attitudes towards people with mental illness can be harmful, stigmatising, rejecting, creating prejudice, discrimination and intolerance for individuals. The paper will discuss strategies such as working with NGOs and various community and religious leaders in a shared care approach to change societal attitudes towards people with mental illness and reduce stigma. This has the potential to encourage people to seek help at an early stage, thus reducing the burden of disease on the person, families and society as a whole. The paper will also address a current project plan related to communities’ attitudes. The proposed study will evaluate the cultural adaptation of the CAMI - CALD scale within the Australian context, including African, Indian, Arabic and Chinese groups to further establish the scale's reliability and validity. Results of this study may inform policy makers and allocation of resources directed towards development of culturally sensitive mental health awareness campaign/resources aiming raising awareness and reducing stigma.