My community mental health nurse says that in Zimbabwe there are no people with negative voices......?!
Question: My community mental health nurse says that in Zimbabwe there are no people with negative voices.......?
from schizophrenia but there are people who hear voices which tell them things for example like "it will not rain for 3 months" and people give them respect and crowds gather round to hear them.
Is it something in Western culture that promotes mental illness with negative terrifying voices.?
He comes from ZimbabweHealth Question & Answer
Is it something in Western culture that promotes mental illness with negative terrifying voices.?
He comes from ZimbabweHealth Question & Answer
Answers:
I think you are right in identifying cultural differences influencing our views of mental illness... in some countries they believe that their gods, their dead ancestors, or their guiding spirits speak to them, but in the west if you hear voices you are labelled as mentally ill. It is quite possible, that becaues of our preconceived ideas about what is normal and what is not, that when we do hear voices they are often negative. Perhaps if we believed that hearing voices was a natural and positive thing then more people would have positive experiences of hearing voices, but because we are brought up to believe that hearing voices is 'wrong' or abnormal, they tend to be negative. But, as you said, in cultures where voice hearing is considered a gift, the voices are wise and positive.
There are plenty people in the west who hear voices which are positive and encouraging, and never negative or threatening, but the medical profession does not like to admit this, because it does not fit in with our cultural ideology. Voice hearers who welcome their experiences are probably reluctant to admit it for fear of being labelled. Health Question & Answer
There are plenty people in the west who hear voices which are positive and encouraging, and never negative or threatening, but the medical profession does not like to admit this, because it does not fit in with our cultural ideology. Voice hearers who welcome their experiences are probably reluctant to admit it for fear of being labelled. Health Question & Answer
I have never heard of mental health discriminate between cultures, I think maybe there are thinks in the modern world that cause schizophrenia and that mental illness is far more diagnosed then it ever was. I would be sceptical of his comment about not having mental health issues though I do believe people who predict the weather. Health Question & Answer
Africans believe that the dead watch over them. Christianity was brought to them by missionaries but they have always had their own beliefs. Such as traditional healers who use herbs and claim to consult the dead for answers - no one knows if what they say is real. And they do have others who claim to perform miracles - some people who are ill or poor will go to these crusades, I guess it's the equivalent of benny hinn here in the west. Health Question & Answer
I'm sure these people are well respected in the community for a start and perhaps are in tune with nature and the spiritual world. besides western culture is very different to african.Health Question & Answer
you need a new community mental health nurse....Health Question & Answer
Are you sure his surname isn't Mugabe.?Health Question & Answer