Cultural competence reexamined: critique and directions for the future.
This Open Forum aims to stimulate productive dialogue about cultural competence in providing mental health care. The authors examine recent calls for culturally competent care in mental health practice and give a brief overview of the context in which demands for such care have arisen. Using select examples from anthropology, the authors provide evidence of the importance of culture in the production, presentation, and experience of psychic distress. Acknowledging the value of culturally appropriate care, the authors synthesize anthropological critiques of cultural competence models. The essay concludes with suggestions for future directions in cultural competence research and implementation.
Carpenter-Song
Elizabeth A
EA
Department of Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, 641 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115, USA. eacsong@gmail.com
Nordquest Schwallie
Megan
M
Longhofer
Jeffrey
J
D018864:Cultural Diversity; D005006:Ethnicity; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services; D011361:Professional Competence; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy; D014481:United States