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How does mental health education differ across the globe?

Marilee Soppit

Mental health education is a critical aspect of personal wellbeing, and it's essential that it's addressed accordingly. Different parts of the world have different approaches to mental health education, and these approaches can be influenced by various factors such as culture, religion, beliefs, and economic status.

In many parts of the world, mental health education is still considered taboo, and unfortunately, it's kept hidden due to emotional stigmas. Such societies are in denial, and they view mental health issues as a taboo subject. Undertaking mental health education can be viewed as something shameful, and people don't appreciate the gravity of the situation. As a result, it can be challenging to seek help in such environments, and the level of awareness is low. This approach has led to underreporting of mental health issues, which is alarming, particularly in low-income countries.

However, in countries where there's awareness of mental health issues, some organizations and governments invest heavily in education to create awareness. For instance, countries like the UK, US, Canada, and Australia have established different programs to create education on mental health.

Another difference observed globally is that while in some states, mental health education is a subject to be imported from abroad, other countries have established their approaches. A good example is Japan, where they have developed an educational system that focuses on teaching mindfulness as a way of managing anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges.

In some countries with less developed economies, mental health education isn't entirely considered a priority, as other basic needs take precedence. As such, there's limited investment in creating awareness of mental health issues. Unfortunately, low-income areas where mental health education isn't a priority have higher rates of poverty and limited access to healthcare services, leading to higher rates of mental illness.

Religious beliefs can play a significant role in determining a society's view on mental health. Some traditional societies regard mental health issues as a spiritual condition or punishment from the gods. As a result, such societies use herbal medicine, exorcism, and prayer as ways of addressing mental health challenges. One example is the Hindus, who view mental health through the lens of Karma. They hold beliefs that adverse mental health is due to problems in someone's past life. In parts of Africa, family and community support is the primary way of addressing mental health challenges, and traditional healers provide solutions to mental health issues.

Finally, the language and interpretation of mental health issues are different across the globe. Some languages don't have words equivalent to mental health disorders such as schizophrenia, anxiety, or depression. In such cases, it's challenging to create awareness, let alone understand the importance of addressing mental health.

In conclusion, mental health education has several differences globally, shaped by cultural orientations, economic status, religious beliefs, and linguistic barriers. However, creating awareness and designing mental health education programs that are culturally congruent is essential. This can help reduce the cases of stigmatization, poverty-related mental health disorders, and other mental health issues collectively.