Cultural Beliefs Regarding Health and Illness

Cultural Competence in Mental Health
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Cultural Competence in Mental Health
Diverse patients hold different beliefs about health based on their cultural backgrounds. As such, the concept of health and illnesses varies across patients, and nurses must demonstrate cultural competence when providing care. They must understand the natural and unnatural cultural beliefs about illness. On the one hand, natural beliefs are related to natural elements and conditions (Videbeck, 2023; Steele, 2023). The belief is that illnesses are caused by natural elements such as heat, cold, wind, and impurities in food, water, and air. On the other hand, unnatural beliefs are related to supernatural power, spirit, or deity, which acts as an outside agent (Videbeck, 2023; Steele, 2023). The belief is that these supernatural forces cause illnesses. Illnesses from these unnatural forces ar...