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Schizophrenia, along with other mental illnesses, can be viewed and interpreted differently depending on the culture.

Latino (includes anyone from Latin American decent) culture entails being very family oriented, respecting traditional celebrations and ceremonies, religious, superstitious, generous, and prideful of their culture.

Barriers That Surround Schizophrenia
In Latino culture, schizophrenia is both viewed and treated differently compared to Western societies. In Western culture, schizophrenia is viewed from a predominantly scientific and biological perspective. Some of the overall cultural barriers that surround schizophrenia in Latino culture are the following:


 * It is not seen as serious disease. Schizophrenia is usually interpreted as people just acting ‘loco/loca’ (crazy) all of a sudden due to stress, nerves, or other circumstances.
 * Individuals who suffer from schizophrenia face being shunned by their entire community due to them being seen as crazy, unstable and dangerous by everyone else. A feeling of hopelessness ensues within affected individuals which makes seeking help very unlikely.
 * Machismo (or toxic masculinity) is also a barrier because if the head of house does not approve of the diagnosis or treatment for the affected individual(s), then the whole family disapproves as well. Machismo can also bring on more risky behaviors that can have negative effects on both physical and mental health.
 * A common factor in Latino culture when dealing with a condition like schizophrenia is being too prideful to seek proper treatment. Individuals tend to rely on their families for their wellbeing and will seek their families help in the form of traditional treatments, such as curanderismo or espiritista. Another common factor is if Latinos feel like they cannot trust medical doctors, they will not take their medical advice and seek other forms of treatment they feel more comfortable with.
 * Being of low SES (social economic status) can have an impact on how the affected individual(s) gain access to treatment and services.
 * Having a language barrier can also cause problems because if an individual were to immigrate from anywhere in Latin America to the USA or another country, if they cannot speak the language, they will have a difficult time explaining what is wrong with them. Due to the language barrier being a problem, the affected individual(s) will become frustrated and forget about seeking treatment all together.

Beliefs About Schizophrenia
The most common beliefs that interpret and explain schizophrenia in Latino culture have to do with it being a problem of the nervios (nerves), religion, and supernatural.


 * Problema de los nervios (Problem of the nerves): Is the most common belief and explanation for schizophrenia among Latinos. Schizophrenia will go away on its once the individual calms down due to either being irritated, worried, stressed, etc. Latinos view schizophrenia as an emotional problem instead of a medical one. If the family interprets schizophrenia a case of the nerves, instead as a mental illness, it’ll be ‘easier’ to deal with since Latinos want to avoid stigmas. By referring to schizophrenia as a case of the nerves, it will be easier for Latinos to relate to the affected individual(s) instead of ostracizing them. Latinos tend to rely on their cultural traditions and knowledge to understand and cope with what is happening to their family members.
 * Religion: If an individual is diagnosed with schizophrenia, Latinos will connect this diagnosis back to God and are convinced that this is God’s will for having this condition. Latinos will also feel like they are destined to suffer from this illness because it is punishment for all their past sins they have committed throughout their lives.
 * Supernatural: Latinos can be very superstitious, thus, if an individual suffers from schizophrenia, this can be interpreted as a person cursing an individual(s) to suffer from brujeria o mal ojo (witchcraft) due to said individual(s) wronging them in the past.

How Is Schizophrenia Treated
Since Latino culture interprets schizophrenia differently from Western societies, it also treated differently. Due to Western societies viewing schizophrenia from both a scientific and biological perspective, it is also diagnosed and treated as a medical condition. Some of the most common ways to treat schizophrenia among Latinos are the following:


 * Prayer: Due to Latinos being very family oriented and religious, most are convinced that since this is God’s will for them to suffer from schizophrenia, perhaps prayer and having hope among the entire family can help the affected individuals be healed.
 * Seeking help from curanderos (native healers), espiritista (spiritual healer), or brujos (witch doctors): In most of Latino culture, individuals will seek help from alternative healers to cure the illness and cast ‘el mal’ (the badness) away because curanderos tend to overall focus on curing the spirit, soul, and body of sick individuals. Seeking help from curanderos, espiritistas, or brujos is standard treatment for Latinos when they cannot afford medical treatment due to their SES. Latinos seek going to these alternative healers due to comfort since going to see them is traditional among them since curanderos, brujos, and espiritistas all understand the Latino culture well enough to recommend certain rituals and remedies for the ill.

How Is Schizophrenia Viewed In Other Cultures?
Since Western societies view schizophrenia as a serious medical condition, other cultures, aside from Latino culture, view this illness differently but can also have some similarities.


 * Chinese culture: Mental illness is not tolerated. Having schizophrenia or another mental illness is seen as tainting the entire family while also dishonoring the ancestors. If the family were to have an individual diagnosed with schizophrenia, in order to avoid stigmatizing everyone, the affected individual(s) would be kept a secret from the outside world.
 * Japanese culture: If an individual is diagnosed with schizophrenia, the family will avoid being stigmatized or be associated with someone who is mentally ill, thus, they will blame the affected individual(s) for their own demise. Honor is important in Japanese culture and having a family member with schizophrenia is seen as shameful for everyone in the family.
 * South-East Asian cultures: In places like Vietnam, schizophrenia and other mental illnesses are seen as untreatable and being in denial for as long as possible is seen as a better outcome compared to seeking treatment. Seeking treatment is seen as weak. In Burmese culture, similar to Latino culture, they seek treatment and guidance from Buddhist priests, witch doctors, etc. to treat schizophrenia and other mental illnesses.
 * Indian culture: Believe that mental illness is caused by stress and karma. In Indian culture, mental illnesses that are severe are seen as minor conditions that can be curable. Families do not want to be burden with having someone mentally ill in the family and most will abandon the affected individual(s).
 * Muslim culture: Mental illness, like schizophrenia, can be seen as either a punishment or test from God. In order for an individual to redeem themselves, they must have more faith. Similar to Japanese culture, having a mental illness is seen as shameful as well in Muslim culture. A supernatural belief in Muslim culture about mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, is possession by an entity. Suffering from mental illness is seen as physical illness.