Finding Home in Ourselves

Cultivating Connection Through Cultural Identity

We often hear about the importance of identity in shaping mental health. At its core, identity is how we understand who we are, and one powerful aspect of that identity is culture. Cultural identity influences our values, beliefs, relationships, traditions, and even the language we use to describe and express emotions. Fundamentally, it shapes how we interpret the world and critically, how we interpret and perceive ourselves.

At a school like Stanford, cultural diversity is not only present; it thrives. Entire dorm communities are dedicated to exploring and celebrating culture, such as Casa Zapata, Okada, Ujamaa, and Muwekma-Tah-Ruk. Academic programs, including minors like Iranian Studies, and countless student organizations, create spaces for cultural expression and dialogue. Yet, even within this ocean of diversity, it is possible to feel alone. On a heterogeneous campus like ours, some students may struggle to find a sense of belonging or feel disconnected from both their heritage and the dominant campus culture.

However, culture does not only shape identity and belonging; it also influences how mental health itself is understood. Different cultures conceptualize mental health in various ways. In some communities, mental health is perceived primarily in medical or psychological terms. In others, emotional distress may be framed through spiritual, religious, or familial lenses. Across cultures, stigma and stereotypes surrounding mental health can still persist. These cultural beliefs can heavily influence whether we feel comfortable discussing mental health challenges, whether we even recognize certain aspects of mental health as "real concerns," and whether we seek professional support down the line.

Research supports this inextricable connection between cultural identity and mental health. Studies have shown that cultural identity and social context play an important role in decisions to seek help (Chan et al., 2018). Two key processes are often discussed: acculturation, the process of adapting to mainstream culture, and enculturation, the retention of one’s culture of origin (Sun et al., 2016). Both influence how individuals perceive mental health care and their willingness to seek support.

However, even when stigma and shame are present, your experiences and emotions are valid. You get to define what a "real concern" is, and mental health is always something to take seriously.

Strengthening cultural connections is one effective approach to navigating these complexities. Engaging with cultural centers, student organizations, or faith communities can provide a sense of shared understanding and reduce feelings of isolation. Seeking stories and perspectives from others who share similar backgrounds, through personal narratives, podcasts, or online communities, can also remind you that you are not alone in navigating cultural stigma or differences around conceptualizing mental health.

Exploring culture through creative expression, such as music, film, art, and literature,can be a powerful way to affirm and reconnect with your cultural identity. Sharing these cultural cornerstones with friends outside your background can foster communal understanding and deepen connections, helping reduce feelings of loneliness.

Another way to reconnect with culture at Stanford is through language. Stanford offers about 50 language programs and has resources like the Language Partners Program, which provides free language conversation practice with peers trained to help you develop the skills you need to succeed in your classes. Vasu Agarwal, a Language Conversation Partner (LCP tutor) in the program, reflects on this resource as an international student: "LCP is a great way to share my culture since we end up talking about Latin countries, and it definitely makes me feel closer to home since I'm used to socializing in Spanish, and I don't do it here as much." She emphasizes that LCP is a wonderful resource for reconnecting with your language while also developing it further.

Ultimately, cultural identity is not separate from mental health; it is intertwined with it. By acknowledging how culture shapes our understanding of well-being and by taking advantage of resources that embrace cultural belonging, we are not only helping to celebrate the diversity that makes Stanford so special but also ensuring that our peers from all backgrounds can better flourish.

Written by: Niku Sedarat, Class of 2028