Culture and Social Support

Abstract

This article was commissioned by ADAMHA to articulate the contribution of social and behavioral sciences to mental health research. The author selected two concepts commonly used in research on ethnic minorities in the last two decades: culture and support groups. Advocates of alternative and special facilities for racial and cultural minorities, on one hand, have argued persistently for increasing funding for research and treatment facilities with bilingual and bicultural clinicians, and others, on the other hand, for research by "insiders. " This article is an attempt to raise theoretical questions concerning the use of culture and support groups in research on cultural minorities and to offer some suggestions.