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The Work of Culture in the Treatment of Psychosis in Migrant Adolescents

Montreal Children’s Hospital, Canada, Cecile.rousseau{at}muhc.mcgill.ca

Fiona Key

Montreal Children’s Hospital, Canada

Toby Measham

Montreal Children’s Hospital, Canada

Psychotic illness in an adolescent is a catastrophic event for families, particularly migrant families, who tend to use mental health services less than mainstream families. This article presents a clinical approach that takes into account the work of culture in the construction of meaning and the development of coping strategies for migrant families faced with the onset of psychosis in an adolescent. This approach transforms the therapeutic space into a transitional one that allows the interplay of many different interpretations and strategies to deal with the crisis. Recognizing the potential value of non-western systems of knowledge, offering help as the family grieves the loss of its expectations for their child, mobilizing support systems, and strengthening the therapeutic alliance are the key elements in this process.

Key Words: adolescent • culture • immigrant • psychosis • treatment

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