Psychological distress is inherently constructed within contexts and the unique, cultural meaning systems that have developed to understand mental illness. Moreover, cultures naturally develop their own systems of healing, grounded in traditional practices. Western psychology and psychiatry have, through globalisation and colonial histories, imposed systems of mental health care and definitions of mental illness. In doing so, local understandings and ways of being regarding mental health have often been eclipsed. This is no less true in Namibia. However, much of the existing mental health literature from Namibia explores mental illness from a Western lens of psychopathology. This article discusses the relevant research about mental illness in Namibia and situates this within related literature from other Southern African countries. Several cultural factors across diverse groups in Namibia are important to more fully understand what mental illness and treatment are throughout this country. The cultural role of diverse conceptualisations of mental illness is discussed in order to explore potential areas of growth in Namibian mental health and intervention. The nature of traditional healing in other Southern African contexts is also addressed, given that although traditional healing exists in Namibia, researchers have not yet explored it within the context of psychological distress. Recommendations for mental health and psychological treatment in Namibia are discussed.

中文翻译：

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纳米比亚的心理健康

心理困扰是在情境和发展为理解精神疾病的独特文化含义系统中固有地构造的。此外，文化自然会根据传统做法发展自己的康复系统。西方心理学和精神病学通过全球化和殖民历史，强加了精神保健系统和精神疾病的定义。在这种情况下，当地人对心理健康的理解和方式常常被忽略。在纳米比亚也是如此。但是，纳米比亚现有的许多心理健康文献都从西方心理病理学角度探讨了精神疾病。本文讨论了纳米比亚有关精神疾病的相关研究，并将其置于其他南部非洲国家的相关文献中。纳米比亚不同群体的几种文化因素对于更全面地了解整个国家的精神疾病和治疗方法很重要。为了探讨纳米比亚精神健康和干预的潜在增长领域，讨论了精神疾病各种概念化的文化作用。考虑到尽管纳米比亚存在传统疗法，但研究人员还没有在心理困扰的背景下探索传统疗法在其他南部非洲背景下的性质。讨论了有关纳米比亚心理健康和心理治疗的建议。为了探讨纳米比亚精神健康和干预的潜在增长领域，讨论了精神疾病各种概念化的文化作用。考虑到尽管纳米比亚存在传统疗法，但研究人员还没有在心理困扰的背景下探索传统疗法在其他南部非洲背景下的性质。讨论了有关纳米比亚心理健康和心理治疗的建议。为了探讨纳米比亚精神健康和干预的潜在增长领域，讨论了精神疾病各种概念化的文化作用。考虑到尽管纳米比亚存在传统疗法，但研究人员还没有在心理困扰的背景下探索传统疗法在其他南部非洲背景下的性质。讨论了有关纳米比亚心理健康和心理治疗的建议。