This topic will examine the concept of mental health from the vantage point of the social determinants of health. We will first examine the concept of mental health, and the manner in which definitions of mental health have been contested culturally, historically, and socially. Special attention will be paid to the concept of "normality", and the manner in which "normality" versus "abnormality" serves to advantage or disadvantage individuals, groups, and societies. The topic will then examine the concept of mental illness, the phenomenology of mental illness, and the manner in which the social determinants of health influence an individual's risk for mental illness. The topic will conclude by examining health educational strategies for discussing issues related to mental health in schools. Special attention will be paid throughout the topic to perspectives from positive psychology and the distinction between health and well-being.
This topic aims to:
Timetable details for 2021 are no longer published.