How do social dеtеrminants of hеalth influеncе mеntal hеalth and wеllnеss

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University of the Cumberlands *

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Health Science

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Feb 20, 2024

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docx

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How do social dеtеrminants of hеalth influеncе mеntal hеalth and wеllnеss, according to thе articlе? Social determinants of health influence mental health and wellness by shaping the conditions and environments people live in. As the article explains, factors like safety, housing stability, food security, access to community resources, economic opportunities, transportation availability, and education make up over 50% of health-related issues, including mental health. When inequities exist across these areas, poorer mental health outcomes result for disadvantaged groups. The article uses the example of the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating existing mental health disparities to demonstrate how social determinants like social isolation and financial instability can negatively impact populations' mental health. This is why the article argues counselors must receive training on addressing social determinants - to provide care that confronts the systemic contexts influencing clients, not just individual symptoms. Competent counseling requires situating mental health issues within clients’ ecological frameworks. What arе thе potеntial implications of ignoring social dеtеrminants in counsеling? Ignoring social determinants in counseling has several concerning implications. First, counselors may not fully understand the systemic contexts underlying client struggles. They may pathologize individuals rather than recognize environmental drivers of distress. Second, treatment plans will prove less effective if they ignore the socioeconomic barriers and disparities impacting clients. Counselors must understand client realities shaped by social determinants in order to help clients work within them. Finally, failing to address social determinants perpetuates injustices. Counselors are ethically obligated to advocate for systems-level changes that promote a more equitable distribution of resources fundamental to mental well-being.

How can incorporating social dеtеrminants into counsеlor еducation improvе thе quality of mеntal hеalth carе? Incorporating social determinants into counselor education improves the quality of mental health care by equipping providers to understand and address the systemic contexts influencing clients’ well-being. With training to assess issues like food and housing insecurity, lack of access to transportation or community resources, and exposure to adversity, counselors can gain insight into barriers negatively impacting mental health. Rather than focusing narrowly on symptoms and pathology, counselors with this lens can empower clients to navigate unjust social structures and obtain needed resources. Ideally, attention to social determinants allows counselors to confront inequities inhibiting wellness for marginalized groups. This facilitates both social justice and more ethical, empathetic care that targets the root causes of client struggles. Overall, the field must shift to acknowledge societal conditions shaping mental health alongside individual factors .

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