In this architecture of risk, the social determinants of health
predispose individuals and populations to poor physical and mental health, increased risk for many physical and mental illnesses, and poorer course/outcomes of such illnesses when they occur
.
What are the factors determinants that make you mentally healthy?
- Self-esteem. This is the value we place on ourselves, our positive self-image and sense of self-worth. …
- Feeling loved. …
- Confidence. …
- Family breakup or loss. …
- Difficult behaviour. …
- Physical ill health. …
- Abuse.
Social factors that can influence mental health include
race, class, gender, religion, family and peer networks
. Our age and stage, and the social roles we have at any time in our life all contribute to this.
The social determinants of health (SDH) are the non-medical factors that influence health outcomes. They are
the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life
.
The presence of good physical and mental health follows a social gradient:
the environments into which people are born, live and work determine their health outcomes as measured by life expectancy and years lived with disability
.
Social determinants of health and mental health go hand-in-hand with health equity
. The WHO says, “Risk factors for many common mental disorders are heavily associated with social inequalities, whereby the greater the inequality the higher the inequality in risk.”
- Safe housing, transportation, and neighborhoods.
- Racism, discrimination, and violence.
- Education, job opportunities, and income.
- Access to nutritious foods and physical activity opportunities.
- Polluted air and water.
- Language and literacy skills.
How do socioeconomic factors affect mental health?
A growing body of evidence, mainly from high-income countries, has shown that there is a strong socioeconomic gradient in mental health, with
people of lower socioeconomic status having a higher likelihood of developing and experiencing mental health problems
.
How do determinants of health impact health?
Social determinants of health reflect the social factors and physical conditions of the environment in which people are born, live, learn, play, work, and age. Also known as social and physical determinants of health, they
impact a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes
.
They include factors like socioeconomic status, education, neighborhood and physical environment, employment, and social support networks, as well as access to health care (Figure 1). Addressing social determinants of health is important for
improving health and reducing health disparities
.
How is health affected by the determinants of health?
A person’s health is also influenced by biomedical factors and health behaviours that are part of their individual lifestyle and genetic make-up
. These factors can be positive in their effects (for example, being vaccinated against disease), or negative (for example, consuming alcohol at risky levels).
Social Determinants of Health Impact Trauma
Some social determinants can increase the risk that an individual will experience trauma
. Examples of this include: Poverty – Those who live in poverty are often surviving daily in vulnerable living conditions, with consistently limited access to food, water, and shelter.
Negative social determinants of health can impact both an individual’s knowledge about healthcare and resources, and
limit access to them
. A growing body of research indicated: Children born to parents who haven’t completed high school are more likely to live in environments that contain barriers to health.
Income
is perhaps the most important social determinant of health. Level of income shapes overall living conditions, affects psychological functioning and influences health-related behaviours such as quality of diet, extent of physical activity, smoking and excessive alcohol use.
Healthcare providers can address social determinants of health through five approaches—
awareness, adjustment, assistance, alignment, and advocacy
, according to a report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
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.
3
Higher rates of mental health problems are associated with poverty and socio-economic disadvantage
. Social characteristics, such as gender, disability, age, race and ethnicity, sexual orientation and family status influence the rates and presentation of mental health problems, and access to support and services.
For example, research found that
social class is closely related to depressive symptoms
[21]; that social class is an important factor affecting anxiety; and that lower class children have more anxiety and that their anxiety is often related to psychopathology [22, 23].
