Risk factors : Socio cultural issues
In this topic will explore the interactive relationship between mental health and socio cultural factors such as gender, sexuality, poverty, migrant and indigenous status.
Who is at risk?
Learning Journal ? Are there any particular groups in society who are at greater risk of developing a mental illness?
Much of the literature in relation to the socio cultural risk factors surrounding mental health indicate that there is an interactive relationship between mental health and socio cultural factors, such as, poverty, gender, sexuality, migrant status, and indigenous status.
Once you start to explore these issues individually you may start to see what I call the “chicken or egg situation.’’ What I mean by this is, do mental health problems cause the sufferer to have a much higher chance of being poor, homeless, unemployed and indulge in poor physical health practices or do all of these things cause a person to become mentally unhealthy?
Reading
Draine J., Salzer M, Culhane D and Hadley T. Role of Social Disadvantage in Crime, Joblessness Among Persons with Serious Mental Illness Psychiatric Services 53: 565-573, May 2002 American Psychiatric Association. (e-reserve)
This reading reports on research that examined the role of social disadvantage for people with serious mental illnesses. The authors make some very interesting points that challenge some of the current literature surrounding this issue.
Find out more by exploring these web sites
Bringing them Home - The Report.
This article found on this web site deals with mental health in relation to our Indigenous population. It is a comprehensive site and will give you some invaluable insight into the underlying mental health problems for this group of people.
This document is part of the National Mental Health Strategy and provides you with some very good background information.
This is an interesting site because consumers who are from a variety of backgrounds talk about their experiences and recommend how things can be improved.
Discussion Board: Risk factors
Do a literature search on two socio cultural risk factors that have been identified in this topic e.g. poverty, sexuality, gender, ethnicity. Use the information you have found to discuss why these groups may or may not be at an increased risk of developing a mental illness.