Understanding Indigenous Psychology and mental health: A 10-lesson course

Welcome to our comprehensive 10-lesson course designed to explore Indigenous Psychology (IP) and mental health through diverse cultural perspectives. This course covers essential concepts, challenges, and practical applications of IP while addressing social stigmas, cultural competence, and psychological well-being. Each lesson provides insights from global perspectives, offering valuable knowledge for researchers, mental health professionals, educators, and anyone interested in cross-cultural psychology.

Our lessons cover the following key topics:

Lesson 1: Cultural humility and cultural competence (PDF, 3.8MB)opens in new window

Learn about the fundamental differences between cultural humility and cultural competence. This lesson discusses how Indigenous Psychology integrates cultural traditions and decolonized methodologies in psychological research and practice.

Authors:

• Ismahan Soukeyna Diop, PhD
  Université Cheikh Anta Diop
• Danilo Silva Guimaràes, PhD
  Universidad de Sao Paulo
• Aref Abu-Rabia, PhD
  University of the Negev

Lesson 2: What is indigenous psychology? (PDF, 3.5MB)opens in new window

Explore the foundations of indigenous psychology (IP), with a focus on traditional healing practices in Nepal. This lesson highlights how IP is deeply connected to cultural traditions, spirituality, and holistic well-being.

Author:

• Usha Kiran Subba, DPhil
  Association of Psychologists in Nepal (APN)

Lesson 3: Challenges of indigenous psychology and stigmatization (PDF, 3MB)opens in new window

Discover how Eurocentric perspectives have historically marginalized indigenous knowledge systems and the challenges of overcoming stigma in psychological research and practice.

Author:

• Ismahan Soukeyna Diop, PhD
  Université Cheikh Anta Diop
• Art Blume, PhD
  Washington State University

Lesson 4: A practical application of indigenous psychology in psychotherapy (PDF, 737KB)opens in new window

This lesson examines how Indigenous Psychology is applied in psychotherapy, using case studies from Senegal. Learn about traditional healing rituals, spirit possession, and community-based therapeutic practices.

Author:

• Ismahan Soukeyna Diop, PhD
  Université Cheikh Anta Diop

Lesson 5: Being parents in India: From family planning to family parenting (PDF, 3.2MB)opens in new window

Explore traditional Indian parenting practices, including cultural beliefs about family structure, child-rearing, and protective rituals like the "evil eye." This lesson provides an in-depth look at how Indian families navigate parenting within a collective society.

Authors:

• Poonam Sharma, PhD
  Vellore Institute of Technology
• Rekha Wagani, PhD
  Universal AI University

Lesson 6 : Mental health = Physical health (PDF, 606KB)opens in new window

Understand the deep connection between physical and mental health, examining the biopsychosocial model and how mental health affects overall well-being.

Author:

• Kai A D Morgan, PsyD
  Jamaican Psychological Society

Lesson 7: What is stigma and how stigma can influence children's mental health (PDF, 1.1MB)opens in new window

This lesson delves into the impact of stigma on children's mental health, exploring how cultural attitudes shape the willingness to seek psychological support.

Author:

• Diwakar Singh Sikarwar, PhD
  Counsellor Council of India

Lesson 8: Stigma-based bullying in school (PDF, 10.5MB)opens in new window

Learn how stigma-based bullying, targeting identity-related traits such as race, gender, or disability, negatively impacts children’s psychological development. The lesson discusses strategies to combat bias-based bullying in schools.

Author:

• Gabriella Kulcsár, PhD
  University of Pécs

Lesson 9: Online stigma-based bullying among school children (PDF, 1.6MB)opens in new window

Discover how social media and digital platforms contribute to stigma-based bullying and its psychological consequences for youth.

Author:

• Marijana Markovikj, PhD
  Macedonian Association for Applied Psychology (MAAP)

Lesson 10: Mental health in education: Stigma-based challenges (PDF, 6MB)opens in new window

This lesson delves into the concept of mental health stigma in the context of education, exploring its manifestations, consequences, and strategies for reducing it.

Author:

• Shukria Q. Khan, PhD
  Pakistan Psychological Association (PPA)