Barriers that Western social workers face in dealing with black patients who

MA Social w
experience Psychosis and have supernatural and spiritual beliefs.
Literature review Supervisor
Key themes from the literature: Caroline Le
• Understanding psychosis and seeking help behavior, in many African
Introduction Methodology countries use relational-oriented personhood (Ngwenya et al, 2023).
The experiences associated with psychosis are The research philosophy guiding this study is based on • The individual would have to identify their person through various
universally experienced, (Wusten et al, 2018), criticality exploring both facts and subjective information. agencies within the African culture to get treatment.
however, responses toward psychosis vary Both the literature review and the thematic analysis using • When working with black patients, social workers should consider
enormously. Attitudes and beliefs Braun and Clarke’s Six stages approach (Byrne, 2022). The working with each individual whilst keeping their specific beliefs in
underpin the interpretation of what causes literature searches for recent studies relating to the mind to maximize their recovery (Harrison, 2010)
psychosis and what treatments are appropriate question of issues between Western social workers and • A need for culturally sensitive approaches within services including
for those who are in distress. Within Western black patients following the documentary analysis of five social work when working with black patients experiencing mental
cultures, a medicalized, science short stories of patients with psychosis who have spiritual health needs.
-based response towards psychosis is beliefs. • Both UK and African policies did not mention the inclusion of herbal
underpinned by a belief in psychosis being of Ethical consideration was in action throughout the healers or priests working alongside mental health services in the
psychological/biological origins. However, interpretation of my work and as a researcher I was treatment of patients suffering from psychosis and belief in the
within some African cultures, responses ethically neutral. To be able to adhere to SWE 2, I was paranormal.
towards psychosis are underpinned by a belief committed to my research ethics. Research Gap: The literature review reveals a search gap
in psychosis being of supernatural origins. The concerning the working between mental health services and herbal
study will,
Explore psychosis from a non-Western
Findings and Discussion healers or spiritual priests. There is a lack of assessment tailored to
The main finding included the need to promote social support people who have psychosis and believe in spirituality or the
perspective supernatural.
justice and cultural person-centered care, CRT analyses
To investigate the culture and beliefs
surrounding the African community
religious and spiritual beliefs, cultural acknowledgments Conclusion and Recommendation
about black people, and psychosis to promote a lasting This study has found that the main problem that Western social workers
Investigate UK and African policy on mental
recovery were facing was not being educated about people’s backgrounds whilst
health.
References treating their patients.
Byrne, D., 2022. A worked example of Braun and Clarke’s approach to reflexive thematic Recommendation are:
analysis. Quality & quantity, 56(3), pp.1391-1412. • A greater training in black cultural experiences, cultural
Harrison, G. and Turner, R., (2010). Being a ‘culturally competent’social worker: Making sense of a competencies, and unconscious bias.
murky concept in practice. The British Journal of Social Work, 41(2), pp.333-350. • A recovery model assessment from a critical race theory perspective.
Ngwenya, N., Chikwari, C.D., Seeley, J. and Ferrand, R.A., 2023. Are concepts of adolescence from The recommended approach would consider the patient’s
the Global North appropriate for Africa? A debate. BMJ global health, 8(12). background and the impact this may have on mental health, as well
Russell-Brown, K., (2009). The color of crime (Vol. 45). nyu press. as other more widely recognized factors.
Wüsten, C., Schlier, B., Jaya, E.S., Fonseca-Pedrero, E., Peters, E., Verdoux, H., Woodward, T.S., Ziermans, T.B. • Within social worker assessment for black patients, the unconscious
and Lincoln, T.M., 2018. Psychotic experiences and related distress: a cross-national comparison and network bias that views black people as loud, violent, and deviant should be
analysis based on 7141 participants from 13 countries. Schizophrenia bulletin, 44(6), pp.1185-1194. recognized as problematic and oppressive, and recognizing cultural