Cultural Awareness Strengthens Mental Well-Being in the Workplace

Mental well-being isn’t experienced the same way by everyone. At its core, mental well-being means feeling balanced, capable, and connected—being able to cope with everyday stress, work productively, and contribute to our communities. But how we experience and maintain that balance is deeply influenced by our cultural identities—shaped by heritage, traditions, language, and the communities we belong to. These cultural perspectives influence how we manage stress, express emotions, and seek support. They also shape how we define well-being itself: what it looks like, when we prioritize it, and who we trust to talk about it.

In diverse workplaces, building awareness of these cultural influences isn’t just about inclusion—it’s a foundation for psychological safety. Psychological safety means that individuals feel comfortable being themselves at work—sharing ideas, asking questions, admitting mistakes, or raising concerns—without fear of embarrassment, rejection, or punishment. This is the foundation for trust, learning, and innovation in teams. Embracing diverse cultural identities strengthens our sense of confidence and belonging, especially in environments where we feel accepted for who we are.

That’s why Mental Health Awareness Month isn’t just a calendar milestone—it’s a moment to ask deeper questions: What does well-being really mean to me? To you? To us as a team or a company? These conversations are both personal and systemic. Talking openly about mental health and cultural identity helps us break silences, shift norms, and make space for different ways of being well.

So today, I invite you to reflect on how your cultural identity has shaped your own well-being—and to consider how honoring that in others can help build a workplace that’s not just inclusive, but truly supportive. Because when we recognize the different ways people understand and care for their mental health, we create space for trust, reduce stigma, and open the door to something better—for everyone.

Intersecting Identities, Differing Paths to Mental Well-Being

Recent research (Zhou et al., 2025) highlights two key dimensions of well-being. The hedonic perspective focuses on pleasure, life satisfaction, and feeling good—often linked to short-term enjoyment and positive emotions. In contrast, the eudaimonic perspective is rooted in meaning, purpose, and living in alignment with one’s values. It goes beyond surface-level happiness to reflect deeper fulfillment and long-term personal growth.

While both are important, how we access and prioritize them is often shaped by culture. In many Western contexts, there’s a strong emphasis on happiness and positivity. In other cultures, however, well-being may be more closely tied to resilience, spiritual connection, or a sense of collective duty (Ryan & Deci, 2001).

When we integrate cultural recognition into conversations about mental health, we validate the diverse ways people experience well-being. We also recognize the multiple aspects of identity—culture, race, gender, socioeconomic background, and lived experience—and how these intersect to shape our emotional lives. Acknowledging and celebrating this diversity reminds us that mental health is not one-size-fits-all. Just like identity, the ways we cope, process, and heal are informed by where—and who—we come from.

The Connection Between Mental Well-Being and Cultural Awareness

Celebrating Shared Values – Mental health and cultural pride both flourish in environments that foster community and inclusivity. Honoring diverse cultural histories builds connection, reinforces a sense of identity, and contributes to emotional stability and workplace harmony.

Cultural Identity and our traditions as a Source of Strength – Recognizing and embracing one’s cultural heritage can be a powerful foundation for resilience. It supports self-esteem, emotional regulation, and a deeper sense of belonging. Cultural identity is often shaped by the traditions we inherit and carry—whether through how we celebrate, grieve, cook, tell stories, or gather as a community. These rituals connect us to a shared history and worldview, anchoring us in times of uncertainty and creating continuity across generations. Through tradition, we express who we are—and remember where we come from.

Cultural Definitions of Mental Health – Mental health is not defined the same way across cultures (Kleinman, 1980). In some societies, well-being is closely tied to emotional openness and personal autonomy; in others, it may be grounded in collective harmony, spiritual practices, or physical balance.

Coping Mechanisms and Help-Seeking Behaviors – Cultural background influences not only how people cope with stress, but also how and where they seek support. Some cultures lean toward formal support like therapy or counseling, while others rely more on family, community elders, or spiritual leaders (Sue & Sue, 2016).

Emotional Expression and Communication – Culture plays a central role in shaping how emotions are expressed, regulated, or even suppressed (Matsumoto & Juang, 2016). What is considered a healthy expression of emotion in one culture may be seen as inappropriate or misunderstood in another.

Identity, Belonging, and Psychological Safety  – Feeling psychologically safe means being able to express one’s full identity—including cultural background, gender identity, language, and values—without fear of judgment. A lack of cultural awareness in the workplace can lead to exclusion, microaggressions, and identity masking, all of which negatively impact mental well-being (Edmondson, 1999).

 

Intersectionality and Compounded Stress – Cultural awareness also requires recognizing how different aspects of identity—such as race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, neurodiversity, and class—intersect to shape experiences of stress, stigma, and resilience (Crenshaw, 1989). These overlapping identities can amplify the challenges individuals face, but they also offer unique strengths when acknowledged and supported.

Cultural Practices That Support Mental Well-Being

In cultures that prioritize individualism, mental health is often framed as a personal responsibility—emphasizing autonomy, self-reflection, and the pursuit of personal fulfillment. Practices such as therapy, mindfulness, and independent self-care routines align with this perspective, reinforcing the idea that well-being is cultivated from within.

Conversely, collectivist societies approach mental health through a communal lens, where emotional resilience is built through shared experiences and mutual support. Family gatherings, intergenerational wisdom, and community-based healing rituals serve as foundations for well-being, reinforcing the belief that strength is not an individual endeavor but a collective effort. The act of supporting others becomes integral to maintaining emotional balance.

Having traveled across different regions and engaged with diverse communities, I’ve seen firsthand how cultural identity influences mental health practices. From Japan’s concept of “ikigai”—the pursuit of meaning through purposeful living—to Latin America’s deep-rooted tradition of “sobremesa”, where post-meal conversations strengthen emotional bonds, these cultural frameworks offer valuable perspectives on how well-being is nurtured.

Exploring these variations allows us to appreciate the richness of human connection and the multiple paths to mental wellness. Let’s dive into a few of these fascinating practices.

Ubuntu: The Power of Collective Healing

In sub-Saharan Africa, particularly among Bantu-speaking cultures, the philosophy of Ubuntu—meaning “I am because we are”—reinforces the idea that wisdom and well-being are rooted in community. This belief fosters interconnectedness, highlighting that healing is a collective experience rather than an individual pursuit. An interesting example is the community-driven support systems in many African villages. If a traveler arrives in a village, they are often welcomed with food and shelter without needing to ask—because Ubuntu teaches that caring for others strengthens the whole community.

Emotional Expression in Latin America

Latin American cultures embody expressive interdependence, where emotions—particularly joy, warmth, and empathy—are openly shared to deepen connections. Music and dance, from salsa and tango to cumbia, more recent reggaeton, serve as vibrant expressions of emotion, uniting people in celebration and solidarity. Beyond movement and melody, sobremesa, the cherished tradition of lingering at the table after a meal, reflects the importance of shared time. Through conversation and laughter, relationships are nurtured, offering a natural space for emotional reflection and support. Healing is deeply rooted in family and community gatherings, where storytelling, shared meals, and intergenerational wisdom provide comfort and strength. In Latin America, well-being is not an individual pursuit—it thrives in the collective embrace of cultural rituals.

Scandinavian Balance: Lagom & Hygge

Scandinavian cultures embrace Lagom in Sweden ("just the right amount") and Hygge in Norway and Denmark (a philosophy of comfort and emotional well-being). These concepts encourage mindfulness, reduce stress, and strengthen social bonds. By embracing simple pleasures—such as kind conversations, warm environments, and sustainable routines—people cultivate gratitude and emotional balance.

The Dutch Holistic Approach

The Dutch culture in the Netherlands fosters well-being through flexible work schedules and environmental sustainability. Prioritizing nature and integrating cycling into daily life contribute to lower stress and better mental health. Check this BBC video by Melissa Hogenboom & Howard Timberlake about the Dutch cycling culture.

Cultural Identity at Work: Different Paths to Well-Being, One Shared Goal

We often talk about mental well-being as if there’s one right way to care for ourselves—meditate, journal, unplug. But the truth is, how we understand and experience well-being varies very much per person. Our values, traditions, and sense of identity shape how we express emotions, cope with stress, and connect with others.

If we want to truly support people at work, we need to move beyond one-size-fits-all approaches and recognize the diverse cultural frameworks that influence what connection balance, and resilience look like. Because when we make space for these differences, we don’t just build inclusion—we design workplaces that feel human, relevant, and real.

Take the African philosophy of Ubuntu, which reminds us that healing and wisdom are collective experiences. In this worldview, strength comes from community—“I am because we are.” It’s a powerful counterbalance to the hyper-individualism that often dominates corporate culture.

In Latin America, emotional expression is not only accepted—it’s encouraged. Joy, empathy, and warmth are openly shared to build trust and connection. Music, movement, food, and storytelling are more than tradition—they’re forms of collective care. How could we design employee support or team rituals with this lens?

Scandinavian cultures show us how well-being can thrive in simplicity. Concepts like Lagom and Hygge offer models for emotional sustainability, where slowing down, embracing comfort, and valuing the “just enough” fosters both gratitude and balance—less burnout, more presence.

Meanwhile, in the Netherlands, well-being is built into the infrastructure—through cycling culture, flexible schedules. This holistic view merges environmental and mental health, reminding us that systems matter, and well-being doesn’t stop at the individual.

Each of these cultural lenses offers a unique path toward mental health—and when we recognize them in the workplace, we create a real supportive space for people-

Because thriving at work doesn’t look the same for everyone—and that’s exactly why cultural awareness matters.

Keep reading! here some of my sources

Crenshaw, K. (1989). Intersectionality. [Note: For formal referencing, include the full source if available—book, article, etc.]

Edmondson, A. C. (1999). Psychological safety and learning behavior in work teams. Administrative Science Quarterly, 44(2), 350–383. https://doi.org/10.2307/2666999

Eze, M. O. (2010). Intellectual History in Contemporary South Africa. Palgrave Macmillan.

Kleinman, A. (1980). Patients and Healers in the Context of Culture. [Publisher not listed—should be University of California Press.]

Matsumoto, D., & Juang, L. (2016). Culture and Psychology (6th ed.). Cengage Learning.

Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2001). On happiness and human potentials: A review of research on hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. Annual Review of Psychology, 52, 141–166. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.52.1.141

Salvador, C. E., Idrovo Carlier, S., Ishii, K., Torres Castillo, C., Nanakdewa, K., San Martin, A., Savani, K., & Kitayama, S. (2023). Emotionally expressive interdependence in Latin America: Triangulating through a comparison of three cultural zones. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspi0000436

Sue, D. W., & Sue, D. (2016). Counseling the Culturally Diverse: Theory and Practice (7th ed.). Wiley.

Wang, Z., & Giovanis, E. (2024). Cultural integration, subjective identity, and well-being: Global migrants in the UK. Current Psychology, 43, 12634–12652. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-023-05336

Zhou, W., Jiang, D., McLellan, R., Qian, H., & Wu, H. (2025). Wellbeing profiles and their relationships to gender, homeownership, income, marriage, and education: Exploring hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing in the East. International Journal of Wellbeing, 15(2), 4649, 1–23. https://doi.org/10.5502/ijw.v15i2.4649

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