do people in africa have these problems or any other mental health problems?

waine

Well-known member
do people in africa have these problems or any other mental health problems? its just they are always seen stereotypically at least as being content and happy with what they have despite the poverty.
 

nicole1

Well-known member
Because they are people just like you, I'm sure they do... It's more about whether they are addressed, how they are addressed and treated, and other attitudes towards it.
 

Illusions

Well-known member
To assume all of them are happy and content would be to generalise. I'm pretty sure psychological problems like these transcend race and geographical location, and are bound to exist where human interaction is concerned. :)
 
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Beatrice

Guest
To assume all of them are happy and content would be to generalise. I'm pretty sure psychological problems like these transcend race and geographical location.

True, but I would venture a guess and say that some of these issues are more prevalent in some areas because of the type of societies. I believe I've heard several times now, from a few different sources, that America has had a huge increase in depression and anxiety rates, and just look at the way we live; our fast-paced lives, combined with the increase in cyber use and the decrease in community.
 
True, but I would venture a guess and say that some of these issues are more prevalent in some areas because of the type of societies. I believe I've heard several times now, from a few different sources, that America has had a huge increase in depression and anxiety rates, and just look at the way we live; our fast-paced lives, combined with the increase in cyber use and the decrease in community.

True. But their could be other kinds of anxiety/depression/etc. that we don't experience here, but they do. Just because they don't use computers or are more community minded doesn't mean they don't have their own issues. Way back in them olden times, they didn't have electronics and people depended on their communities to live. I would think that anxiety and depression still occurred then.

ETA: I know what I'm trying to say, but it ain't coming out. :)
 
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Beatrice

Guest
True. But their could be other kinds of anxiety/depression/etc. that we don't experience here, but they do. Just because they don't use computers or are more community minded doesn't mean they don't have their own issues. Way back in them olden times, they didn't have electronics and people depended on their communities to live. I would think that anxiety and depression still occurred then.

ETA: I know what I'm trying to say, but it ain't coming out. :)

Well yes of course. I'm not saying they don't have issues, I'm saying they probably have less of the types of issues we have; that's just my guess, though, I'm not assuming that is definitely the case.

And not being rude, but... what "other" types of anxiety and depression and so forth would there be? :confused:
 
mental problems can occur in anyone.
however, there have been studies( no I don't know where to find them on the internet, so don't ask for a link. My therapist told me about them) that living in a small close nit area can reduce symptoms of schizophrenia ( Not SA, I know). But I think having a strong support system can have positive mental health benefits for any condition.
So to conclude my theory: areas such as villages or tribes may have less mental health issues because each individual has a strong support system and sense of belonging.
 
Well yes of course. I'm not saying they don't have issues, I'm saying they probably have less of the types of issues we have; that's just my guess, though, I'm not assuming that is definitely the case.

And not being rude, but... what "other" types of anxiety and depression and so forth would there be? :confused:

Not different kinds of anxiety, but anxiety brought on by different factors. Sorry, that was worded oddly.
 
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Beatrice

Guest
So to conclude my theory: areas such as villages or tribes may have less mental health issues because each individual has a strong support system and sense of belonging.

Exactly. This is what I meant pretty much. Not to say they don't have their issues; of course they do, they're human. And they have issues we DON'T have, for sure. But overall they probably have better mental health. At least, I wouldn't be surprised if they did.
 
yeah, most people in Africa have it far worse than us as far as standard of living, but standard of living and metal health are completely different.
Not saying they don't have any correlation, poor people might have more stress than rich because they have to worry about being able to eat, and having a roof over there head.
But stress and hardship don't have to lead to mental health issues.

anyway I am rambling.
@ the OP I suggest taking a sociology course, it deals with issues like these, and sheds a lot of light on things as well.
 

Newtype

Well-known member
We are like this because of our society. They have a different society and as if that wasn't enough, some of those African tribes have different fundamental rules as well, like who you can or cannot have sex with, how many wives or husbands you can have. Also, some of those societies are patriarchal or matriarchal. Let's not forget the different belief systems as well. Comparing ourselves to them is kind of impossible. However, I'm sure they have mental health problems as well. Just different ones.
 
I watched a program today called "The Bride was Seven." It was about how girls in Ethiopia are married off at extremely early ages. Their "husbands" are usually twice their age, if not older. The girls are expected to go from little girl to pregnant housewife immediately. They said that many girls are kidnapped, raped and beaten, and forced to sign a marriage contract that is legally binding in court.

I know this is an extreme example, and maybe it fits more with standard of living, but I was really struck by this and was having thoughts similar to that of the OP.
 

Remus

Moderator
Staff member
True, but I would venture a guess and say that some of these issues are more prevalent in some areas because of the type of societies. I believe I've heard several times now, from a few different sources, that America has had a huge increase in depression and anxiety rates, and just look at the way we live; our fast-paced lives, combined with the increase in cyber use and the decrease in community.

I think that is a result of modern living and not just in america. We are happiest living the natural communal nomadic lifestyle.
 

Mickery

Well-known member
I think that it is a result of prevalent diagnosis, which does not have to correspond with actual incidence. American is awash with psychologists and it's culturally acceptable to be treated, not to mention accessible, where the same may not be true elsewhere.
 
I think that it is a result of prevalent diagnosis, which does not have to correspond with actual incidence. American is awash with psychologists and it's culturally acceptable to be treated, not to mention accessible, where the same may not be true elsewhere.

^I totally agree with this.
 

Nanita

Well-known member
I travelled in "poor countries", not Africa though. I met some people, young and adults, and I got the sense they are dealing with personal mental and emotional stuff too, maybe not as much as us in the modern societies, but some.
Also, I think it has an effect that we see and read the expressions and words that describe different disorders and diseases. We can identify ourselves with some of the things we read or see in the medias. 10 years ago "depression" was a very "popular" word to use, and at that time I also described myself as "depressed", but now I would more accurately describe myself as having social phobia (and just being sensitive in general).
 

mmmm

Well-known member
Just wanted to clarify. "Africa" is not synonymous with "poor" or "tribal". If the OP meant poor and tribal, then please say so instead of African. Also, sorry to offend anyone but how can you make a post about Africa and then use data about American women to answer it? Are they non-American just because they are black? (Obviously, Africans use computers if I am able to reply to this post).

To answer the question in terms of poor and tribal people around the world and not just on one stereotyped continent, of course every nation has mental and psychological issues. It's just that people of lesser means are most likely concentrating on the immediate problems of food and shelter. The person probably wouldn't even recognise himself as having a psychological problem as he would likely assume that his feelings of "wrongness" or "unhappiness" were coming from his immediate needs not being met. If that same person were to suddenly wake up with all his physical needs taken care of, he would then be able to focus on "hang on, I have everything I need, so why am I still unhappy."
 

Feathers

Well-known member
Yeah, I wanted to point out that there are some people from Africa here on the forum :)

I agree that in times of other extreme conditions, food and shelter and health come first...

Some people did report that people in 'less developed' countries were apparently happier... (obviously probably not where there is extreme hunger/war and such..) Though suicide rates almost disappeared before World War II and such.. Apparently people felt there was something worth fighting for, or just joined the army...?

In Western societies, alienation and unhealthy overprocessed food and too much TV/computer usage and society/media pressure on who to be etc. and environmental pollution can be a problem..

Industrialized nations deal with some unhappy problems from the past, eg heavy metals from chemical industries etc.. (heavy metals => mental problems..) Trouble is many times these days the problems are exported to Africa/Asia.. (eg toxic e-tech, old computers and such..) So I think there will be more health and mental health problems in Africa too..

Funky, YAY you're back!! :) ((hugz)) Don't think it's easy being a 'poor white girl' - the pressures can be immense!! 'We're offering you all this' and all that.. (and in exchange, you must succeed and make all OUR dreams come true and give up who you are and look like Barbie doll and oh, don't forget smiling!!)
I sometimes wished to be a sassy & empowered African Queen!! :) See Oprah & others - great role models!! Also, because of history of opression, there is a source of pride in one's abilities and overcoming adversities...
I wonder if nutritional and lifestyle factors are different too..?
It doesn't make anyone immune I guess, it's interesting to see the % though!!
 
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mmmm

Well-known member
^Oprah is not African. White people can be African queens. Skin colour has nothing to do with nationality.
 
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