Westernization versus indigenization in the context of global mental health: training and services in Ethiopia – University of Gondar in focus

Abstract

Ethiopia is one of the ancient countries inhabited by well over a hundred million people of diverse cultures and languages. Such diversity requires mental health training and services to be tailored to those diverse needs of the people. Consequently, there are important implications for mental health training and services. The gap in mental health knowledge is attributed perhaps to a lack of trained professionals in relevant fields in awareness and understanding of advances made in global mental health (GMH) and blended with indigenous wisdom. Training is Western orientated and lacks integration with local culture and wisdom. The study intends to explore the extent to which mental health training and services have customized Western mental health traditions into the indigenous knowledge, skills, and practices of Ethiopia. The study employed an exploratory design, and data was collected through focus group discussions (FGD) from a total of eighteen faculty, alumni, and practitioners working at the University of Gondar. Data was collected using semi-structured interview guides from the different groups. Mental health knowledge in our training and service providers is perceived to be culture specific rather than universal. However, it is highly influenced by the Western culture diffused through various media. This has resulted in faculty and practitioners being dependent on Western resources without adapting them into indigenous wisdom and cultures. This has prevented them from exploring and practicing what is available in our specific cultures and traditions, such as books written by the religious scholars and traditional healers.