Practice Brief: Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Care for Early Psychosis

Prepared by Jorge Ramírez García, PhD; Jessica Maura, PhD; Sarah Kopelovich, PhD

The growing diversity of the United States highlights the importance of inclusion among those at risk for and experiencing early psychosis. Emerging literature suggests higher incidence rates of psychosis among individuals of Black descent, poorer treatment engagement rates for immigrant groups, and less access to individual and family-based psychotherapy among Hispanic and African American populations. These troubling disparity trends along ethnic and racial lines speak to the need for evidence-based guidance on how to ensure that early psychosis care is accessible to and appropriate for families of all cultures.

The National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) were developed to help eliminate health care disparities by providing a framework for individuals and healthcare organizations to implement Culturally Responsive Care (CRC). CRC is an approach that is both respectful and responsive to cultural beliefs and practices, preferred languages, health literacy levels, and communication needs. This evidence-based practice brief, designed for behavioral health providers working with individuals who experience psychosis, describes the principles and practices of CRC.

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