A historical overview of anthropological research in mental health highlights the influence of colonialism on early cross-cultural perceptions of mental illness. This legacy shapes contemporary calls for anti-racist and anti-colonial approaches in psychiatry. The chapter examines cultural concepts of distress, offering a framework for understanding how individuals, communities, and societies interpret the causes and solutions to psychological distress. Ethnopsychology is introduced as a holistic approach to understanding emotions, distress, selfhood, and society from cultural perspectives. By the chapter's end, readers gain a deeper awareness of the historical roots of psychiatric classifications and the critical role of cross-cultural perspectives in improving public health and clinical practices.