Addressing the Social Determinants of Mental Health to Achieve Equitable Clinical Care, Research, Education, and Public Policy

The impact of social factors in health has been known for centuries, but by the second half of the twentieth century, the rise of neuroscience and biomedical technology decreased attention on the influence of social and environmental factors on mental health and psychiatric illness. This trend reversed in the last two decades with developments by the World Health Organization, the US Centers for Disease Control and the United Nations drawing attention to the critically important role of adverse social determinants of health and mental health (SDOH/MH) in risk for the development of disease. The chapter reviews the framework of SDOH/MH in building a more equitable mental health system by highlighting evidence-based research, exploring clinical education needs and clinical care strategies that can positively influence the SDOH/MH and offering public health policy interventions that can mitigate risk factors and foster the promotion of optimal mental health for future generations.