The Social Determinants of Mental Health

Book excerpt: The Social Determinants of Mental Health provides a foundation of knowledge on the social and environmental underpinnings of mental health and mental illnesses for clinical and policy decision making, with a goal to improve the mental health of individuals across diverse communities and the mental health of the nation as a whole. The basic premise of this concise book is that society plays a prominent role in creating and shaping mental illnesses and thus is in a position to improve mental health and reduce risk for mental illnesses. Where an individual, family, community, or society is located on the continuum from health and wellness to illness and infirmity is multidetermined. Although genetic influences and biological factors are key drivers of health and wellness, the contexts of the individual, family, community, and society are also crucial. The Social Determinants of Mental Health provides psychiatrists, psychologists, residents, medical students, policymakers, and allied mental health professionals with practical information in an accessible format for incorporating social and environmental determinants of mental health into practice and policy decision making, empowering them to act to build a culture of positive mental health and wellness. Students preparing for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) will also benefit from this book, as the MCAT in 2015 will test applicants’ knowledge of the social determinants of health. The social determinants of mental health are not distinct from the social determinants of physical health, although they deserve special emphasis given the prevalence and burden of poor mental health.