Ethnic Psychiatry

Today there is an overall greater awareness and acceptance of ethnic diversity in American society and a clearer definition of the United States as a pluralistic nation. The last U.S. census showed that well over 100 million Americans, white and non­ white, identify with an ethnic group. Ethnicity is indicative of more than the personal distinc­ tiveness derived from race, religion, national origin, or ge­ ography. It denotes the culture of people-that powerful yet subtle factor that shapes values, attitudes, perceptions, needs, modes of expression, patterns of behavior, and identity. From a clinical perspective ethnicity involves conscious and uncon­ scious processes that fulfill deep psychological needs for se­ curity, a sense of one''s own proper dignity, and a sense of historical continuity as well. These functional aspects of eth­ nicity reinforce the notion that culture is of significant value to the quality of life and the mental health of all individuals. In the preventive and therapeutic sense, ethnicity sustains a capacity for coping with stress by providing communal support systems which serve to buffer the excessive indi­ vidualism, alienation, and anomie of modem mass culture. Hence, to ensure appropriate delivery of mental health ser­ vices to a particular ethnic population, mental health profes­ sionals must first become cognizant of the positive aspects vii FOREWORD viii and strengths to be drawn from a particular group identity and then incorporate these elements into their treatment strat­ egies or techniques.