they were once based on ethnicity or nationality, religion, and so on, but are now primarily defined by skin color. Cultural, racial, and ethnic identities are passed on through customs, traditions, language, religious practice, and values. Individuals can be the same race, but different ethnicities A social worker should consider the cultural appropriateness of family involvement, individual versus group treatment, alternative treatment approaches (yoga, aromatherapy, music, and writing), medication (western, traditional, alternative), and/or location/duration of intervention. Informed consent is required for all clients, regardless of cultural background. a structured way of observing and describing a client's current state of mind, under the domains of appearance, attitude, behavior, mood and affect, speech, thought process, thought content, perception, cognition, insight, and judgment. A mental status examination is a necessary part of any client assessment no matter what the presenting problem. It is not a psychiatric evaluation and does not determine DSM diagnosis.