When a person claims to hear the voice of a deity, are they having a religious experience or a psychotic episode? To answer this question, social workers need to carefully consider the influence of culture. In a mental health context, the dividing line between normal and abnormal can be ambiguous. Mental illness represents extreme expression of universal emotions and behavior, but what exactly is within the normal range varies depending on cultural beliefs.

In this Discussion, think about how you might define mental illness. With colleagues, you will consider how certain behaviors, beliefs, or actions may be considered normal in certain cultures.

• Create a list of:
  • Behaviors that demonstrate mental illness
  • Beliefs that demonstrate mental illness
  • Actions that demonstrate mental illness
• Explain why you think the behaviors, beliefs, and actions you identified are examples of mental illness.