The Social Determinants of Mental Health

doi:10.1017/9781911623069.006

Chapter 6 - The Social Determinants of Mental Health

from Section 2 - Scoping

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 14 June 2019

Oliver Quantick and

Edited by

S. Alexander Haslam ,

Catherine Haslam ,

Kamaldeep S. Bhui and

Susan Bailey

Edited in association with

Daniel Maughan

Show author details

Richard Williams: Affiliation:
University of South Wales
Verity Kemp: Affiliation:
Healthplanning Ltd.
S. Alexander Haslam: Affiliation:
University of Queensland
Catherine Haslam: Affiliation:
University of Queensland
Kamaldeep S. Bhui: Affiliation:
Queen Mary University of London
Susan Bailey: Affiliation:
Centre for Mental Health
Daniel Maughan: Affiliation:
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust

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Summary

Public health is defined by the UK’s Faculty of Public Health as ‘The science and art of promoting and protecting health and well being, preventing ill health and prolonging life through the organised efforts of society’.

This definition locates the causes of ill health and the remedies in the realms of personal and societal agency, and not only in the remit of health practitioners. Although the latter have a role as members of society to make prevention a reality for themselves, families and communities, they play a special part in preventing further ill health for people who suffer mental illness and are seeking help for it.

Other chapters in this book attend to the relational and social fabric that enables people to flourish; it is made of good and trusting relationships, and material conditions that permit thought about purpose and meaning beyond survival.

Type: Chapter
Information: Social Scaffolding
Applying the Lessons of Contemporary Social Science to Health and Healthcare
, pp. 43 - 57

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781911623069.006 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2019

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