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Cultural and Spiritual Constructions of Mental Distress and Associated Coping Mechanisms of Tibetans in Exile: Implications for Western Interventions |
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| Authors: | Ruwanpura, Eshani Mercer, Stewart W. Ager, Alastair Duveen, Gerard |
| Affiliation: | 1 Social and Developmental Psychology Department, Social and Political Sciences Faculty, University of Cambridge, UK 2 Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, USA 3 (address for correspondence) Section of General Practice and Primary Care, Division of Community-based Sciences, University of Glasgow, 1 Horselethill Road, Glasgow G12 9LX, UK stewmercer{at}blueyonder.co.uk |
| Abstract: | The Tibet-TPO project in Dharamsala, North India aims to provideculturally sensitive psychosocial support to Tibetan refugees.In this study we have examined the cultural and spiritual constructionsof mental distress of Tibetan exiles from a secondary analysisof previously published data. Tibetans refugees' constructionsof mental distress were intimately linked to cultural, religiousand political factors. Family and religious support were regardedas key coping strategies, yet many new refugees lacked bothfamily support and detailed knowledge and understanding of TibetanBuddhism. Not all of those interviewed were positive about westernapproaches to dealing with mental distress, but thoseusing the service seemed to do so in a pragmatic and integrativeway. We conclude that culturally sensitive psychosocial supportcan usefully fill a gap, especially for new refugeeswho lack both family support and access to, or understandingof, traditional religious coping mechanisms. |
| Keywords: | Tibet exiles torture mental health culture Buddhism integration |
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