Culture and Mental Health

Culture and Mental Health Eshun and Gurung's book represents the latest and best effort to compile the information about culture and mental health available in the field today. They have assembled some of the best scholars in the field to bring to bear their expertise in each of their respective areas. Readers will be enlightened with the exceptional information described in each of the chapters. The text is relevant, well written, and engaging, and Eshun and Gurung are to be commended for an exceptional effort that will be a standard in the field. David Matsumoto, San Francisco State University Specifically focusing on the work of counselors and clinicians, and especially oriented to students and trainees aspiring to careers in the helping professions, this volume provides a rich introduction to the multitude of ways in which culture shapes everyday life, its various challenges, and their solutions. Far from an abstract and empty notion, Eshun and Gurung's collection adds flesh, bones, and blood to the notion of 'culture' and offers persuasive illustrations of what is meant by the term 'cultural competence.' Larry Davidson, Yale University Eshun, Gurung, and their contributing scholars provide a broad overview of culture and mental health. The book is well worth considering for graduate courses in counseling, psychology, and related fields. Steven Lopez, University of Southern California Culture and Mental Health comes to grips with the complexities of the field without overwhelming or intimidating its readers. Thoroughly documented and up to date, the book is relevant for clinicians and researchers at all levels of training and experience. Juris G. Draguns, Professor Emeritus of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University What is culture, and how does it influence perceptions about mental health? Culture and Mental Health examines the role of sociocultural issues on mental health, psychological disorders, and assessment. The book takes a critical look at the research pertaining to common psychological disorders such as depression and anxiety, presenting a refreshing new approach to understanding mental health.