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Sociology

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Apr 3, 2024

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Advocacy Paper Vicki Vowell SWK 100/Spring Semester 2024 Central Michigan University

Topic: Mental Health Inequalities Mental health is a state of emotional and mental well-being that enables people to cope with life’s stressors, realize their abilities to learn and work and also to contribute to their community. Those who face the greatest disadvantages in life also tend to face the greatest mental health illnesses and disorders. Mental health inequalities are the differences in quality, ability, and access to the healthcare system within the community and the unequal distribution of risks placed upon our mental statuses. Mental health inequalities happen among all age ranges, sexes, genders, education level and socioeconomic levels. A lack of socioeconomic resources can lead to low income and limited access to employment thus lead to higher rates of mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and other psychological stresses in daily life. Disparities in education caused by immigration status, ethnic and racial status can contribute to mental health inequalities. A lack of educational resources can lead to a lack of employment exacerbating mental health illnesses such as depression and anxiety, which can also lead to social inequalities. Discrimination and racism lead to negative emotions, which often leads to feelings of social isolation. Mental health care access for different races and minority groups is often inferior quality and results in delayed treatments. Considering intersectionality of race and gender when thinking about mental health is important. For example, African American men are more likely to experience social isolation, experience certain aspects if discrimination to their specific group, have higher arrest rates and are perceived more often as being dangerous, which could lead Black men to higher rates of mental health illnesses, over white men simply due to their experiences. Geographic location can lead to mental health inequalities. Spatial disparities such as where one lives, spends most of their time, where they can and will receive the majority of

their resources and education will all play a roll in the ability for people to access mental health services and thus impact and exacerbate mental health inequalities if services cannot be accessed adequately. Gender and sex inequalities exist as well. Women are twice as likely to than men to be diagnosed with depression disorders, while men are three times more likely to be given a diagnosis of social anxiety disorder. For much of history there have been disparities and inequalities in mental health illnesses cast upon the people who suffer, the inequalities often come from a lack of mental health services and knowledge. In medieval times abnormal behaviors were often viewed as a sign a person was demonic or possessed, often enduring exorcisms, holes drilled in their skulls to release the demons, eternal imprisonment, or execution. By the 18 th Century people who were considered odd or unusual often suffered from mental health disorders and were placed into asylums ostracizing them from society rather than treating the disorders. In 1954 antipsychotic medications were introduced in treating mental disorders and in 1963 federal funding and support was implemented for community mental health centers. This started the process to deinstitutionalize the mental health community allowing them treatments in outpatient programs and allowing them to stay within their communities for treatment locally. The WHO (World Health Organization) implemented the Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan (2013-2030) which aims to improve mental health by stretching governance, providing community-based care, implementing promotion and prevention strategies, and strengthening the information systems and research programs. A Special Initiative for Mental Health Coverage has also been initiated to ensure access to affordable and quality mental health care for twelve countries. The initiative aims to improve services for mental, neurological, substance use disorders and more in low-income areas.

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