Culture and Individual Differences: Intervention Project Proposal

This report presents an intervention project proposal designed to address mental health issues, specifically depression, within the African Caribbean community in the UK, stemming from cultural and individual differences. The report begins with an introduction highlighting the impact of cultural factors on mental well-being and providing a background on the challenges faced by this community, including racism, poverty, and difficulties accessing mental health services. It then outlines a detailed intervention plan, setting goals to eradicate depression and establish social equality. The plan includes a sequence of activities such as research, government assistance, campaigns, counseling programs, and social education. Theoretical principles, including Differential Association Theory and Signal Detection Theory, are discussed to provide a framework for understanding the issues. The intervention's key aspects, like inter-disciplinary collaboration, commercial viability, and sustainability, are thoroughly examined. The report concludes with a reference list and a comprehensive evaluation of the proposed intervention's potential impact on improving mental health and fostering a more inclusive society.

Running Head: Culture And Individual Differences
CULTURE AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES

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Culture And Individual Differences
Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Background......................................................................................................................................3
Intervention plan..............................................................................................................................6
Key aspects of intervention.............................................................................................................8
Evaluation......................................................................................................................................11
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................12
Reference list.................................................................................................................................14

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Introduction
Culture and individual differences affect lifestyle of people and it may create a mental issue in
special community groups. People from minority ethnic groups often face social isolation and
negative behavior from other major communities. The struggle that they face every day, lead
them to suffer from mental health issues including depression. This study is focusing on
depression in African Caribbean group in the UK due to cultural and individual differences. This
issue is being broader over the passage of time and it is high time to determine intervention plan
for eradicating this issue from the society. Intervention plan, key aspects of intervention is being
evaluated in this study.
Background
 Definition
In the United Kingdom, black and Caribbean community has experienced different mental health
problems among which, depression and stress are significant. This occurs due to differences in
cultural factors and they have to face different problems like racism (Mentalhealth.org.uk, 2018).
In addition, poverty of this cultural people is also the main reason for depression. Often the non-
white people fail to achieve mainstream mental health services because service providers fail to
understand the need of non-white communities in UK. It can be seen that in many cases mental
health problems of this community go unreported or they are not treated properly
(Mentalhealth.org.uk, 2018). This is because people of this ethnic minority group are sometimes
reluctant to engage in mainstream treatment process due to cultural boundaries. Moreover,
boundary of language also plays an essential role because majority of ethnic black people's first

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language is not English. Thus they cannot achieve proper treatment and different malpractice like
cultural discrimination and racism also impact in this issue.
 Contextualization
Depression in Black and Minority Ethnic (BME), the African Carribean group can be found in
major parts of the United Kingdom. Near about 3% of total UK population are BME and they are
facing different conflicts due to the presence of multiculturalism in the UK (Worldatlas.com,
2019). This minority group holds the heritage of former British colonies and African origin. In
16th-17th centuries, African people were brought to European colonies as slaves. Gradually the
time and the social scenario have changed and at present, a small group of this community is
living in the UK. Due to active racism and employment discrimination, this group is facing
different mental health issuers, among them; depression is the most common one. It has been
found that these people are getting involved in many criminal activities in the UK and depression
is leading them to choose a negative path. This situation can be more critical with the passage of
time and it must be prevented by implementing an effective intervention plan.
 Rationale
Action is required to mitigate the issue of depression among African-Caribbean community
because elimination of disparities to access mental health services and lack of knowledge among
them is increasing the problem. This community is facing more racism and is devoid of different
essential mental health support that is indulging them in different criminal activities
(Independent.co.uk, 2017). This is making mental health problem very common in these
communities. Moreover, this community has different perceptions of mental health conditions.
They may think depression is a social or supernatural condition, which is caused by the help of

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different non-biological factors. Moreover, several misconceptions and social stereotypes have
created a perception that this group poses violent behavior and they are sectioned in society
(Huffingtonpost.co.uk, 2013). Hence, they also fear to talk freely about their problem and gets
depressed and stressed. Different cross-cultural belief and discriminatory attitudes need to be
removed to improve the current situation.
 Theoretical principles
Different theories in cross-cultural psychology are there that can be evaluated to understand the
reason behind depression in BME. As stated by Marshak (2016), effective analysis of relevant
theories helps to develop an intervention plan. Elaboration of following theory and principles can
help in developing an intervention plan for decreasing depression levels in African Caribbean of
UK.
Differential Association Theory
This theory has been proposed by Edwin Sutherland, who was from the field of criminology. As
opined by Keith (2019), this theory postulates that depression can lead people to interact with the
wrong people and this kind of interaction can help them to learn about attitudes, values, motives,
and techniques for criminal activities. According to the principle of this theory, people perform
criminal activities when the law-breaking definition exceeds law-abiding definitions
(Socialsci.libretexts.org, 2019). Afro-Caribbean people are facing social isolation and racism in
every stage of their life. Other major communities of UK are considering them as criminals and
staying away from them. This kind of racism and social isolation is making BMEs face
depression and they are choosing the criminal path to get rid of this situation.

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Signal detection theory
This theory helps to measure different signals by collecting information. According to Arnett,
Chapin & Brownlow (2018), this theory states different principles regarding collection of signals
by the help of a detecting system. Hence, different issues that are faced by the unprivileged
community can be minimized by devising appropriate strategies. Different factors like
experience and expertise of human beings can be used to collect information about an issue.
There are different principles involved in cross-cultural psychology among which analysis of the
impact of cultural factors on human behavior is significant. As opined by Berry & Dasen (2019),
study of cross-cultural psychology can help to achieve knowledge about different cultural factors
and difference created from it. Another essential principle of this concept is to analyze different
mental processes of humans. This includes variability and invariance that occurs in different
cultural conditions.
Intervention plan
 Goals
Goals of this intervention plan are mentioned below,
 To eradicate depression from BME group of people in the UK
 To establish a social background that ensures equal rights for all communities
 Sequence of activities
These above-mentioned goals can be achieved by performing a sequence of activities in different
stages. Prior activities to meet these goals are listed below,

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 At first, research must be done to understand the level of depression in BMEs in UK.
According to Flemmen & Savage (2017), gathering information regarding the selected
issue shed light on different perspectives.
 These people must be asked to explain the reason behind depression. Effective
communication with these people can help to understand the issues that they are facing in
daily life.
 Collected information regarding the reasons behind depression in BME must be informed
to the government of this country for getting their assistance to remove this issue from
the society.
 Campaigns can be arranged with the help of governments to remove the concept of social
isolation.
 Legal system must be reframed to provide justice in cases of racial discrimination at
workplaces.
 Local healthcare organizations can communicate with these people and inform them
about available solutions to get rid of depression.
 NGOs can be involved in this intervention plan. They can arrange counseling programs
for reducing the level of depression in BMEs.
 Lastly, social education programs must be arranged by the government to educate people
about different cultures. As suggested by McLeod, Horwood & Fergusson (2016), people
from any community must have equal opportunity. Community education may help
people of UK to respect each other's cultural background and BMEs will get the
opportunity to explore.
 Responsible people

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Generally, government officials can be held responsible for achieving these goals because they
will frame policies to achieve the goals. They can help in arranging campaigns to mitigate the
identified issue of depression in BMEs. Different health organizations can form different
groups of collect information about the BME communities, which can help to frame strategies.
As suggested by Williams et al. (2015), information regarding different mental health issues like
depression and factors impacting on this issue needs to be collected. They need to take proper
steps to socially educate socially backward communities. These organizations must communicate
with BMEs and inform them about available solutions to get rid of depression. Help from
different NGO can be taken by the government who works with this unprivileged community
(Samson, 2018). NGOs work with this backward community throughout the year. Hence, they
can provide a wide range of information, which can help to identify cultural issues that impact on
mental health of African Caribbean communities living in the UK. Moreover, NGOs can be
involved in the campaign to devise strategies properly. They can arrange counseling programs
for the BMEs, who are suffering from depression. Essential resources like financial resources
need to be provided by government departments. Financial resource is essential to design and
conduct a campaign. Legal authorities need to be associated with this intervention plans. Legal
authorities need to play an essential role to reframe policies for providing safety to the backward
community (Fox, Moroşanu & Szilassy, 2015). Legal structure must be reframed to ensure equal
rights for all cultural groups. This can help the community to achieve safeguard from social and
racial discrimination.
Key aspects of intervention
 Inter-disciplinary and inter-institutional collaboration

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Inter-institutional collaboration is very essential for achieving different goals to minimize the
issue of mental health problems among African community in the UK. As opined by McLeod,
Horwood & Fergusson (2016), collaboration between different institution helps in framing and
implementing strategies to mitigate different social issues. Collaboration between government
departments like finance, education, legal needs to work and plan together. In addition, different
government authorities need to work together with NGOs. This can help them to implement
social education and other strategies successfully. Moreover, an interdisciplinary collaboration
between health organizations and government need to be done. As stated by Marshak (2016),
interdisciplinary collaboration helps to bring unique skills and knowledge to implement different
decisions. Interdisciplinary collaboration can help to improve mental health of this unprivileged
community. They can be given proper information about different health services and the
problem of depression can be cured through proper counseling. This collaboration can help to
improvise mental health improvement strategies without any barrier like lack of funds.
 Commercial viability
Commercial viability is an important part that must be considered during the development of an
intervention plan. Possible budget or this intervention plan is mentioned below,
Activity Cost (£)
Research on the issue 6000
Meeting with BMEs 2000
Campaigning 8000
Counseling 5000
Social education programs 10000

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Total 31000
Approximate cost for each designed activities has been mentioned in the above table. This
budget is covering the entire intervention plan. As mentioned by Keith (2019), financial resource
supports to get the expected outcome after implementation of a plan. In this case, the government
must invest funds in this noble approach to reduce the level of depression in BMEs. However,
there are several activities included within this intervention plan and the government alone
cannot bear the entire cost. Due to this reason, local NGOs must take initiative to raise funds for
implementing this intervention plan. People from all community can be asked to contribute to
this program. Little contribution from a large number of people can help in raising funds for
implementing this intervention plan.
 Sustainability
Different aspects of this intervention plan will survive after completion of the intervention. The
education that will be impacted by different health professionals and representatives of NGO will
remain even after completion of the intervention. It is a continuous process that needs to be done
regularly, which can enrich knowledge of the backward community (Mentalhealth.org.uk, 2018).
Different recent information about depression can be shared with the BMEs even after
completion of the intervention campaign. This can help to ensure sustainability and cultural
differences can be mitigated by this process.
Legal aspect like framing of policies to ensure safety of black origin people from racial
discrimination will also remain after completion of the intervention process. Different legal
policies must be improved continuously to ensure the rights of backward community. This can

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help to minimize cultural differences and multiculturalism can be promoted. BMEs can take the
help of mainstream mental health services without any barrier like culture and language.
 Ethics
Throughout the entire process of implementation of the intervention plan, ethical guidelines of
the British Psychological Society (BPS) must be followed. The BPS guideline has described four
primary ethical principles. BPS ethical guidelines are available on their official website and this
guideline must be studied (Bps.org.uk, 2019). These principles include responsibility, respect,
competence, and integrity. These ethical principles must be maintained throughout the process of
implementing the intervention plan. Conveying information about these ethical principles to
society can help to solve issues related to cultural and individual differences. On the other hand,
Fox, Moroşanu & Szilassy (2015) have mentioned that the Data Protection Act 1998 must be
obeyed while collecting information from BMEs about their depression and reasons behind it.
Maintaining ethical principles can make BMEs feel that they are not different from other
community people and they will be able to share their concerns easily.
Evaluation
It is important to evaluate the effectiveness of this intervention plan after its completion. It can
be assessed by evaluating improvement in the lifestyle of BMEs. Social isolation affects the
lifestyle of the BMEs and it leads to occurrence of depression in BMEs. After ending of
implementation of this intervention plan, the level of depression in BMEs can be measured
again. As suggested by Samson (2018), effective communication with BMEs must be ensured.
This approach may help in understanding the impact of the intervention plan. BMEs may feel the

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change in the perspective of the society and they can share their views. On the other hand, the
total expense of implementation of this plan is required for evaluating its worth.
Communication with people from other communities, who had taken part in social education
program, must be asked to share their changing viewpoints towards the BMEs. If they can feel
the situation of this group, it can be considered that this intervention plan is an effective one.
Their positive attitude towards BMEs can help this minority ethnic group to get rid of
depression. Frequency of the occurrence of racial discrimination at workplace can be measured
to evaluate the effectiveness of this intervention plan. Information need also be collected from
concerned authorities who have implemented this intervention program. Different information
like change in the life of backward communities, statistics of racism and depression must be
collected to conduct a thorough assessment. Hence, in the future, different goals can be framed
that can help to improve social status of BMEs. In addition, proper treatment can be given to
those communities to reduce depression and stress level.
Conclusion
From the above discussion, it can be concluded that different cultural barrier can impact on
backward communities BMEs in the UK. They face mental health problems of depression that is
caused due to different cultural differences. Cross-cultural psychological theories can be used to
collect information about the issue and frame proper intervention. Different institutions like
government health, panning and finance departments, health organizations and NGOs must work
in collaboration to mitigate the issue. Interventions like improving legal policies, increasing
education of underprivileged communities and providing appropriate health service can be

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ensured to minimize the issue. Intervention plan must be designed ethically to increase its
sustainability.

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