A Holistic Approach for Healing in a Multicultural Society: A Qualitative Study

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Miloni Shah1, Rashmin Cholera2, and Raosaheb Raut3 (School of Business & Economics, Loughborough University, England1, Department of Psychiatry, D Y Patil School of Medicine, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra2, and Department of Applied Psychology, University of Mumbai, Mumbai , Maharashtra3)

The COVID-19 pandemic has spread awareness and helped people realise the importance of mental health such that psychiatrists have had a 60% – 70% surge in the consultations. It has also been noticed that cultural diversity is playing an increasingly important role in the treatment and its impact on mental health. Along with the rising rates, various practices as per different cultures are increasing, especially in India being a multicultural society which show different ways of handling mental health issues. Considering the rising rates of mental health consultations, the objectives of this study were to understand the perspective of mental health professionals on multicultural practices and to explore their experiences working with holistic practices. For the present research study, an interpretative phenomenological analysis approach which is qualitative in nature was employed. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with mental health professionals to collect the data. Different superordinate themes (changes in attitudes towards consultation post pandemic, psychosocial & cultural factors, acceptance, effective skills for multicultural counselling, tuning cultural factors into mental health practice, & existing limitations in mental health practice) and subordinate themes emerged in the findings of this study. The implications of this study is to address the stigma against mental health related concerns as well as tap different local psychosocial and cultural factors which will help to understand mental health issues more effectively. This study will also help to develop treatment plans and diagnostic plans to treat mental ailments using holistic approach.