Identity and Growth
Being the Light in the Tunnel: An Expression of the Multicultural Self View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Sidonia Alenuma
When all fails, you can always on count the multicultural self. How can you not see the light in the tunnel if you are the light itself? It is indeed multicultural to be the light in the tunnel. The growing diversity in our world affirms the need for perceiving the world as a global village, it is becoming increasingly important to address the isms (both negative and positive ones) governing our interactions with each. The negative isms, sexism, racism, ableism, classism, etc. can be mitigated with the adherence and practice of the positive isms such as multiculturalism, anti-racism, and feminism. With emphasis on positive isms, such as multiculturalism, and antiracism, I argue that in order to mitigate negative isms such as racism, sexism, ableism, classism, etc., we need not just address issues at the theoretical level; we need to practice/live isms in our real-life interactions with individuals, thus have our theoretical works, research, publications be informed by our lives in pursuit of praxis at its best. To be truly multicultural is to be our true selves, to be human first. To affirm one’s humanity one has to be their authentic truly multicultural self! To truly affirm diversity, we must perceive all voices as legitimate roads to an inclusive world. We can only do this from a standpoint of multiculturalism by advocating true and meaningful education, creating awareness of inequity, social injustices in our communities, organizations, nations and our increasingly shrinking world that can be describe as a global village.
Mental Health in Ethnic Minority Groups: The Impact of Not Belonging View Digital Media
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session Olusola Togun Butler
According to Abraham Maslow's (1943) hierarchy of needs, to self-actualize, the individual must feel like they belong and they are safe in their environment. This means that the society in which they reside informs them that they are welcome and secure. This message communicates to the individual that they can self-actualize and become the person they want to be because their need for safety and belonging is being met. For members of ethnic minority groups, the message they receive from society is vastly different. They are constantly reminded that they do not belong based on their race, ethnicity, skin color, and national origin. This societal rejection creates a hostile environment in the form of racism, discrimination, oppression, and, microaggression which harms the mental health of ethnic minority group members. The interaction with a hostile environment has a negative impact on their mental health resulting in the development of mental health disorders such as stress, anxiety, depression, and trauma. To highlight the impact that a hostile environment has on the mental health of ethnic minority group members as they are more likely to experience racism/discrimination, live in poverty, lack access to quality healthcare, education, housing, and culturally competent mental health services. The clinician reviewed the completed written initial intake assessment of individuals who identified as being members of ethnic minority groups and who were seeking mental health services. The assessment inquired about the presenting problem, racial, ethnic and cultural identity, experiences with racism, and past experiences with mental health agencies.
