Traveller Discrimination Research Paper

Gypsies and Travellers have experienced discrimination for years from all areas of society. (Cooper,O,Hara,Shmid2007) explain that research shows and demonstrates groups of people deemed to be diverse and different suffer oppression and discrimination from the majority or advantaged groups within society. The discrimination has been shown to come from all areas of socio cultural society including statutory agencies and those there to uphold the law and communities such as Policing, medical, education, Judiciary and penal systems as well as general society. The enactment of the “Equal Status Act” in 2000 now provides some redress for Travellers and Gypsies who have experienced discrimination at institutional level but they still have to face
the general public.
(Binjana2015) Explains that to be able to offer a competent ethical and professional service to minority groups the importance of learning culturally specific information about the group concerned is of utmost importance to them and the quality of service they receive and ultimately the learning they will gain. It is recognised now that it is crucial to take culture into account when providing a counselling service to members of a minority or other ethnic group, as the norms, values and traditions of that group may not be the same as the majority group and their experience will be very different. Not to acknowledge this difference could reinforce the discrimination, inequality and lack of respect which the members of that group may have experienced in wider society.

Specifically, for these groups an awareness of how they might view the terminology of mental health issues is important to understand and in turn, according to a research study completed by (Bristol Mind 2008) could help a therapeutic relationship to be established.
The uptake of mainstream services by the Traveller community is historically low, as a lack of cultural awareness in such agencies that provided satisfactorily for the majority population, often left Travellers feeling disillusioned and misunderstood.
Shame and fear of both judgment and exposure are further inhibitors to service engagement within the community. Cultural and social norms have a great influence on how people attempt to solve problems. It also impinges upon how we seek and use professional assistance and help. Differences exist between societies and cultures and this must be taken into account in any attempt to approach any relationship in a trans-cultural context. The majority of current approaches to helping are heavily influenced by a white, mainly male, middle-class, formally educated Western approach. These do not necessarily find an immediate resonance with other groups, whether defined by race, ethnicity or
culture.

This background has important implications for counselling services. Discrimination and stigma mean that Travellers do not feel valued and will strengthen an already strong negative self-image. Although organisations that support these groups will encourage them to value their identity, tradition and culture, in reality many find this difficult. Travellers are constantly aware that they are seen as criminals and to be feared from the majority of society. Travellers receive a message that their community is primitive, backward, stupid and criminal. How then if these assumptions and judgments have been a part of a person’s life from birth can they develop a sense of pride for who they are? Surely only anger and defensiveness can ensue creating ironically the label they have been tagged with as well as emotional and psychological issues that bring shame and guilt. Many become very ambivalent about their identity, while some respond by breaking away from and denying their Traveller identity. Communities under extreme stress often respond in a self-destructive way, manifested in domestic violence and feuding between families. Men have been especially marginalized by economic and social change.
Maintaining mental health can be a challenge for all members of gypsy and Travelling societies. But when this is combined with the experience of racism, exclusion and discrimination that the Traveller community has experienced, the challenge is greater.
Mainstream services are historically poor due to lack of cultural awareness from statutory services and awareness often leaves the minority groups feeling disillusioned and misunderstood. Shame and fear of both judgment and exposure discourages persons from sourcing support. Along with other black and minority ethnic groups, cultural beliefs can also be reasons for Gypsies and Travellers failing to access these services(Rodham2010).
Counselling had a lot of stigma attached to it people were told to ‘pull yourself together’, ‘get on with it’; showing weakness and needing help for emotional issues was considered a bad thing. It’s still clear to see that sometimes seeking counselling is seen as a negative thing. Whilst there is less stigma, it is still there and often people will have opinions but maynot necessarily voice them.
A study based on attitudes to care, seeking and taking support from services among Gypsy and travellers show other cultural aspects affecting emotional and mental health. This includes strict rules and strong gender roles within the communities and limited cultural awareness and sensitivity from health professionals also highlights problems faced by Gypsies and Travellers in accessing services (Richardson,Ryder2012).
This lack of cultural awareness and the groups negative self image has important and far reaching implications for Traveller mental health says (Lawrence 2007).
There is a close connection between social and physical stress on the one hand and psychological distress on the other. Case reports by Exchange House Service for Travellers in Dublin suggest high rates of mental illness that are not being addressed except through prescriptions for tranquilizers. In a project looking at domestic violence, it became apparent that Traveller men had high levels of suppressed anger about their situation, but had no one to talk to in order to seek help. Figures have also been quoted suggesting that up to 10% of residents of the Central Mental Hospital are Travellers, more than ten times their share of the population would
suggest.
While the rate of suicide amongst Traveller women is higher than their settled counterparts, the rate of male Traveller suicide is an alarming 6.6 times higher than that of the settled male population There are many contributory factors to such high suicide rates including social change, the pervasive problem of drug abuse among marginalised Traveller men, economic pressures, accommodation issues, violence and the extreme levels of discrimination faced by this community. This level of suicide and self-harm among Travellers is a cause of much grief, loss and emotional pain for the immediate family, the extended family and the wider Traveller community.