Presentation Information

Making a Way Out of No Way: Cultural Strengths, Health Disparities, and Postpartum families

• Speaker: Fayth M. Parks , PhD, Licensed Psychologist
• Presentation Type:
• Duration: 75 Mins
• Credits: 1.25 CERP, 1.25 Nursing CEU, 1.25 CME, 0.1 Midwifery CEU

Abstract:

The complexity of postpartum depression and other pregnancy and postpartum mood disorders, including significant health disparities that have emerged from its disproportionate impact on marginalized communities, necessitates learning innovative ways to think critically about the role healing traditions play in a person's medical belief system. Employment of vernacular knowledge about the cause, prevention, and treatment of physical and mental illness along with conventional medicine is a form of medical pluralism where more than one system is in use. Cultural strengths derived from healing traditions can teach us varied helping and healing strategies. Four elements that form a framework for understanding how diverse cultures construct the healing experience will be highlighted. If we disregard healing traditions, we overlook the expressiveness of human behavior and cognitive styles that promote harmony of mind and body, family and community.