Because attitudes about mental illness vary dramatically among cultures, minority psychiatric nurses who are familiar with the culture can play a crucial role in bridging communi-cation gaps. For example, some Hispanic cultures believe there is no such thing as mental illness, says Ignacio Aguilar, a licensed psychotherapist in Santa Fe Springs, Calif., who teaches cultural sensitivity. Nurses must be sensitive to the culture and find ways to make connections between traditional beliefs and modern treatment, Aguilar explains. Rivera-Klein points out that the American mental health system focuses on the individual patient, but in the Latino culture, the family is at the center of everything. You really have to figure out a way to work within the family.
Language can also be a barrier.
Cultural obstacles also exist for African-American patients. The study concludes that this finding indicates a bias in how mental health services are delivered. Carla Serlin King points to other studies that have indicated that African Americans are actually less likely to seek mental health services than whites. She feels that part of the problem may be a result of bias among mental health agencies, combined with African Americans having less access to health care and the cultural stigma associated with mental illness. King is currently working with the National Black Nurses Association on a depression screening campaign to increase African Americans' awareness of the disorder and of treatment options.