The social determinants of mental health and professional counseling: A call to action.

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Bibliographic Details
Title: The social determinants of mental health and professional counseling: A call to action.
Authors: Lenz, A. Stephen, Lemberger‐Truelove, Matthew E.
Source: Journal of Counseling & Development (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.). Oct2023, Vol. 101 Issue 4, p375-380. 6p. 1 Diagram, 1 Graph.
Subjects: Professional practice, Well-being, Social determinants of health, Counseling, Mental health, Humanism, Social justice, Health
Abstract: We live in a complex and interconnected world with individual‐ and community‐level development and well‐being shaped by numerous variables. Given this multi‐deterministic nature of development, counselors are called to integrate the social determinants of mental health (SDMH) into key activities including clinical assessment, case conceptualization, treatment planning, prevention programming, education and training, and scientific inquiry. We discuss the consistency between the humanistic roots of the counseling profession with its values for developmental, preventative, and wellness‐oriented care and practices associated with the integration of the SDMH. We also provide a supportive rationale for the integration of SDMH into counseling practice through review of several key concepts: (a) upstream, midstream, and downstream influences on mental health; (b) the social gradient of mental health; (c) integrating population‐level perspectives on mental health and mental illness; (d) the functional roles of protective and risk factors; and (e) embodying a justice‐ and equity‐focused orientation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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Abstract:We live in a complex and interconnected world with individual‐ and community‐level development and well‐being shaped by numerous variables. Given this multi‐deterministic nature of development, counselors are called to integrate the social determinants of mental health (SDMH) into key activities including clinical assessment, case conceptualization, treatment planning, prevention programming, education and training, and scientific inquiry. We discuss the consistency between the humanistic roots of the counseling profession with its values for developmental, preventative, and wellness‐oriented care and practices associated with the integration of the SDMH. We also provide a supportive rationale for the integration of SDMH into counseling practice through review of several key concepts: (a) upstream, midstream, and downstream influences on mental health; (b) the social gradient of mental health; (c) integrating population‐level perspectives on mental health and mental illness; (d) the functional roles of protective and risk factors; and (e) embodying a justice‐ and equity‐focused orientation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:15566676
DOI:10.1002/jcad.12489