Raj Interviewed for Cultural Relativism Story

Clinical psychologist Anu Raj, Psy.D., is quoted prominently in a Verywell Mind article about cultural relativism and mental health treatment. As noted in the article, cultural relativism suggests that ethics, morals, values, norms, beliefs, and behaviors must be understood within the context of the culture from which they arise, and, because all cultures have their own beliefs, there is no universal standard to judge those cultural norms. The article was also picked up by several other sites, including Yahoo Life.

“When mental health professionals account for the differences in values, and attitudes towards and of marginalized people (including communities of color and LGBTQ+ communities), providers develop respect for individual patients. Consequently, patients are less likely to be misdiagnosed and more likely to continue treatment,” explains Raj, who also notes that an individual’s perception of mental health, including stigma, is often influenced by their cultural identity and social values.