Mental Health of Arab Americans: Cultural Considerations for Excellence of Care

Abstract

(from the chapter) Empirical research addressing the mental health of Arab Americans has been largely explorative in nature and remains negligible compared to that involving other US minority groups. This chapter aims to provide clinicians, educators, and professionals with a better understanding of this community. It begins with a socio-demographic overview of Arab Americans and their immigration patterns followed by a review of the characteristics of their mental health. It then presents the cultural considerations pertinent to a culturally sensitive understanding of this population. Blended case vignettes are used to illustrate the cultural complexity encountered in the clinical setting. Finally, the chapter concludes with clinical recommendations to the professional treating Arab Americans. It is hoped that this body of work can in itself foster cultural sensitivity in clinicians and professionals who are not Arab or Middle Eastern and, by the same token, shed some light on the many challenges such work poses to the professional of similar background as well. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved)