Mental health in an unequal world - The role of social determinants

Abstract

The world, particularly in the past decade was shaped by events that exposed the drastic inequalities in modern-day societies. The social scientists and policy makers have looked at the interactions between these inequalities and health/illness. These interactions play a key role in the prevention, precipitation and treatment outcomes of mental health problems. The relevance of social determinants are often shaped by public policies that is a reflection of prevailing political ideologies. Adding to the problem is also a chronic underfunding in mental health creating a mental health treatment gap. Tackling these inequalities and understanding these social determinants, particularly in mental health and illness, will be key in the years ahead. The article will look to explore the social determinants, especially in the context of mental illness, in this unequal world.

Keywords

• mental health
• social determinants
• unequal world