A recent article on Mind Hacks discusses the existence of racism in the mental health systems throughout the world. From my own experiences I have to wonder if it simple racism or whether it is a lack of cultural competency.
I remember a client from Central America who was talking about the spirits under her bed and evil spirits being present in her home. She was diagnosed as being psychotic, but upon talking with her more I came to realize she was expressing religious beliefs common to Central America. I have also seen women from other cultures diagnosed as "histrionic" who were simply expressing themselves in a more emotional way than a white North American woman would. This was not a mental disorder but simply a different way of expressing themselves that was common in their culture.