Learning Mental Health: What is the Impact of Students’ Culture?

Diversity in culture among people with mental disorders and the workforce who care for them, necessitates undergraduate health students are educated to acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to work effectively with people who experience mental disorders.Culture influences the perception and experience of health and illness (Gopalkrishnan, 2018) and attitudes towards people with mental disorders (Schafer, Wood & Williams, 2011). However, there has been little research on how students’ cultural beliefs impact on learning about mental health, and on evidence-based teaching approaches to support learning across different cultures.A scoping review was conducted to address the research question 'What is the impact of an undergraduate student’s culture on their learning about mental health?’ A systematic search located six papers for review. Results indicated that variances exist between students’ cultural beliefs and their knowledge, skills and attitudes of mental health, but the implications of these differences were not incorporated into pedagogical approaches to mental health education.Educators require an understanding of the potential impact preconceived cultural beliefs have on the learning of mental health, in order to support students to challenge beliefs, recognise stigma and develop knowledge, skills and attitudes to support recovery-oriented mental health practice.Learning Objective: To understand how health professions students’ culture influences understanding of mental health and; identify implications for health professions, particularly nurses, education and research.