He argues that
many mental health conditions are as much a social construct as medical diagnosis
, with doctors or therapists and their patients creating them together. “There are certainly serious conditions, like schizophrenia and manic depression, that are not a social construction,” says Borch-Jacobsen.
Public health aims to promote healthy lifestyles, as well as to detect, prevent, and respond to diseases. The prevalence of mental health issues that affect individuals’ physical and social well-being makes dealing with mental health integral to achieving public health goals.
Health as a social construct
examines how an individuals context impacts upon their health status
. It recognises the interrelationship of the determinants of health and notes that many of the determinants are either out of the individual’s control, or made difficult to change because of their context.
What mental health exists?
- Anxiety disorders, including panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and phobias.
- Depression, bipolar disorder, and other mood disorders.
- Eating disorders.
- Personality disorders.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder.
- Psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia.
Depression is both biologically and socially constructed
. o There is a significant impact of the social environment on a person’s state of being.
Medical sociologists use social constructionist theory to interpret the social experience of illness. Social constructionism holds that
individuals and groups produce their own conceptions of reality, and that knowledge itself is the product of social dynamics
.
Why is mental health such a big issue now?
Mental health conditions are increasing worldwide. Mainly
because of demographic changes
, there has been a 13% rise in mental health conditions and substance use disorders in the last decade (to 2017). Mental health conditions now cause 1 in 5 years lived with disability.
Stigma and discrimination can also make someone’s mental health problems worse, and delay or stop them getting help.
Social isolation, poor housing, unemployment and poverty
are all linked to mental ill health. So stigma and discrimination can trap people in a cycle of illness.
How does mental health affect the society?
Unaddressed mental health problems can have a
negative influence on homelessness, poverty, employment, safety, and the local economy
. They may impact the productivity of local businesses and health care costs, impede the ability of children and youth to succeed in school, and lead to family and community disruption.
Simply put, social constructs do not have inherent meaning. The only meaning they have is the meaning given to them by people. For example, the idea that
pink is for girls and blue is for boys
is an example of a social construct related to gender and the color of items.
Second, all illnesses are socially constructed at the experiential level,
based on how individuals come to understand and live with their illness
. Third, medical knowledge about illness and disease is not necessarily given by nature but is constructed and developed by claims-makers and interested parties.
Definition of social construct
:
an idea that has been created and accepted by the people in a society
Class distinctions are a social construct.
An example of social health is
the amount of interaction a person has with their community
. An example of social health for a society is laws and regulations being applied to all citizens equally. An example of social health is public access to the decision-making processes.
Social Health is a term that refers to
the ways in which people create healthy and positive interpersonal relationships with one another
. Having good social health helps people improve their emotional wellbeing and feel supported in their daily lives.
What defines mental health?
Main page content. Mental health
includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being
. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.
Nonetheless, a larger body of evidence suggests that the prevalence of anxiety is due less to these pressures themselves than to a prevailing social ethos that teaches people that
anxiety-related symptoms are a socially and medically legitimate response to life in the modern age
.
Gender refers to the characteristics of women, men, girls and boys that are socially constructed. This includes norms, behaviours and roles associated with being a woman, man, girl or boy, as well as relationships with each other. As a social construct,
gender varies from society to society and can change over time
.
Second,
all illnesses are socially constructed at the experiential level
, based on how individuals come to understand and live with their illness. Third, medical knowledge about illness and disease is not necessarily given by nature but is constructed and developed by claims-makers and interested parties.
Pain is a normal part of human existence
: Everyone experiences it, but not everyone experiences it in the same way. An individual’s social support system and cultural differences shape their pain experience and can have a significant impact on their prognosis and treatment.
What is the biggest problem with mental health?
Mental health problems are very common
Anxiety and depression
are the most common problems, with around 1 in 10 people affected at any one time. How do mental health problems affect people? Anxiety and depression can be severe and long-lasting and have a big impact on people’s ability to get on with life.
Why does stigma around mental illness exist?
Why does stigma exist? Stigma
arises from a lack of understanding of mental illness (ignorance and misinformation), and also because some people have negative attitudes or beliefs towards it (prejudice)
. This can lead to discrimination against people with mental illness.
Does everyone struggle with mental health?
As the World Health Organization famously says, “There is no health without mental health.” In the course of a lifetime, not all people will experience a mental illness, but
everyone will struggle or have a challenge with their mental well-being
(i.e., their mental health) just like we all have challenges with our …
The experience and manifestation of mental illness are influenced by an individual’s social and cultural background.
It can determine how individuals communicate their symptoms, influence their understanding of their illness, and determine the coping strategies they adopt and the type of interventions they seek
.
One major change has been the shift in society’s attitudes.
People are becoming more accepting of mental health problems and more supportive of people with issues
. They are more aware of common mental disorders such as depression and anxiety, and are more willing to talk to health professionals and seek treatment.
Does mental health have a stigma?
Stigma is when someone sees you in a negative way because of your mental illness
. Discrimination is when someone treats you in a negative way because of your mental illness. Social stigma and discrimination can make mental health problems worse and stop a person from getting the help they need.
