Socio-cultural Influences on Mental Health and Wellbeing

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a step and I started taking those steps in the year 2000. Today, I can boldly say that I am a better person when I first started and by tomorrow will be far better than today.

So I had another live speaking engagement today and I enjoyed every part of it. I derive joy in giving value and impacting lives positively as that is what I was made and created for.

I spoke on the topic: 𝑆𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑜-𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝐼𝑛𝑓𝑙𝑢𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑀𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑡ℎ 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑊𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑏𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑔 at a Mental Health Webinar organized by D.A.M.I with the host @Akinwunmi Owolabi and moderator @Olusoji  Ojoawo.

These was my speaking notes below 👇.

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘚𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘰- 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯?

It means two things. Firstly, it means an institute of education, a class where sociology is taught.

(informal) The discipline of sociology, that's the informal meaning.

Secondly, it means society. In this context we will be looking at it as a society.

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘊𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦?

Culture on the other hand is defined as the most acceptable norms and values in society. It also means the arts, customs, lifestyles, background, and habits that characterize humankind, or a particular society or nation.

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘚𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘰-𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭?

Socio-cultural means values and beliefs acceptable in the society and by different cultures. 

𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘰 𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭-𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨?

Cultural factors profoundly influence mental health and well-being in several ways:

𝟣. 𝖭𝗈𝗋𝗆𝗌 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖡𝖾𝗅𝗂𝖾𝖿𝗌: Cultural norms define what behaviors and emotions are considered acceptable within a society. The society has laid down behaviors and emotions that they see as what is right and acceptable.

These norms shape and transforms individuals' understanding of mental health and influence whether they seek help for psychological issues. For example, some cultures may view expressing emotions openly as a sign of weakness, leading individuals to suppress their feelings and exacerbate mental health problems. Some culture believes that men do not cry as a man crying is a sign of weakness which is not true.

𝟤. 𝖲𝗍𝗂𝗀𝗆𝖺 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖣𝗂𝗌𝖼𝗋𝗂𝗆𝗂𝗇𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇: Cultural attitudes toward mental illness can vary significantly from one person to another. In some cultures, there is a strong stigma associated with mental health conditions, leading to discrimination and social isolation for affected individuals. 

This stigma can prevent people from seeking treatment and receiving the support they need, worsening their mental health outcomes. Stigmatization is when you use an individual's weakness or challenge to describe who the person is to another person who doesn't know the victim.

𝟥. 𝖢𝗎𝗅𝗍𝗎𝗋𝖺𝗅 𝖨𝖽𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗂𝗍𝗒: Cultural identity plays a crucial role in shaping individuals' sense of self-worth and belonging. Conflicts related to cultural identity, such as discrimination or acculturation stress, can contribute to feelings of alienation and psychological distress. 

Psychological distress is a very bad type of stress that promotes mental health disorder. Conversely, a strong cultural identity can serve as a source of resilience and provide a sense of community support.

𝟦. 𝖥𝖺𝗆𝗂𝗅𝗒 𝖣𝗒𝗇𝖺𝗆𝗂𝖼𝗌: No two family looks alike or shares the same attributes so how a family is structured is different from that of another person's own.Family structures and dynamics vary across cultures and can impact mental health in significant ways. 

Supportive and genuinely caring family relationships can provide a buffer against stress and adversity, especially distress, while conflicts within the family or pressure to conform to cultural expectations may contribute to psychological difficulties.

𝟧. 𝖢𝗈𝗉𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖬𝖾𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗂𝗌𝗆𝗌: Cultures often have unique coping mechanisms for dealing with stress and adversity. Depending on the culture you belong to and represent will determine the kind of coping mechanism that you would have adopted. Positive affirmation is a coping mechanism that has been used over time and I can say boldly that it works perfectly well. 

These may include religious practices, cultural rituals, storytelling, or community support networks. Engaging in culturally relevant coping strategies can promote resilience and facilitate psychological well-being.

With a coping mechanism you build a strong defensive wall. What looks like a weakness to you that others have been using to get to you and make you feel depressed or inferior bounces back to them as it doesn't get to you or mean anything to you.

𝟨. 𝖠𝖼𝖼𝖾𝗌𝗌 𝗍𝗈 𝖢𝖺𝗋𝖾: Cultural factors also influence access to mental health care. Barriers such as language barriers, lack of culturally competent providers, and disparities in healthcare resources can prevent individuals from receiving appropriate treatment. Culturally sensitive approaches to mental health care are essential for overcoming these barriers and ensuring that services meet the diverse needs of communities.

When an individual that is suffering from mental health disorder is not adequately and genuinely loved by the family, friends and colleagues around, it makes the person depressed and begins to consider suicide as the only solution.

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: By recognizing and addressing the impact of cultural factors on mental health, practitioners can provide more effective and culturally responsive care, ultimately improving outcomes for individuals and communities.

Also, there is nothing bad in seeking help from appropriate  sources and individuals. Also, there are therapists, psychologists and counselors  out there that you can speak with and become a better person. Remember, you are too valuable and important to those who care for you to feel inferior or unwanted or unloved.

I had a wonderful time and thanks to the organizers for giving me the opportunity to speak at such events. Thanks to every listeners that joined and learned a few things from all that I said.

I am open to accepting speaking engagements both virtual and physical.

I remain your Speaking Psychologist.

Thank you.

I remain 👇

𝗜𝘀𝗿𝗮𝗲𝗹 𝗢𝗹𝗮𝘄𝘂𝘆𝗶

(@𝘁𝗼𝗯𝘆𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮_𝗶𝗻𝗰)

#SportsPsychologist, #SportsSociologist, #WellnessManagementCoach, #StressCoach, #PerformanceCoach, #FitnessTherapist, #ExerciseInstructor, #MentalHealthCoach