Social Determinants of Mental Health

An examination of the social determinants of mental health reveals that some persons are at risk of mental illness and substance use disorders because of unfavorable social, economic and environmental circumstances. These disadvantages are cumulative, beginning at birth and remaining throughout life. The World Health Organization has published key findings and recommendations to bring awareness to the issue of social health disparities. This workshop will discuss the interacting forces that help shape individual and population-level mental health and well-being, including employment, food, access to and quality of health care, education, income, environment, social isolation, housing, and adverse childhood experiences. Social health disparities can extend across the life-span, beginning with exposure to risk factors from formative stages and decades beyond. The World Health Organization proposes that actions and policies addressing the problem need to be universal and inclusive, yet proportional to the need. This workshop will discuss the key messages and actions to reduce the risk of mental, emotional and behavioral disorders proposed by the World Health Organization and other resources.

Learning Objectives:

Participants will be able to

1. Define mental health
2. Identify social inequalities that are associated with risk of common mental health and substance use disorders
3. Discuss a life-span approach which will give every child the best possible start and generate the greatest societal and mental health benefits.
4. Recognize that action needs to be universal: across the whole of society, and proportionate to need.

Presenter:

Julie Stevens is an Advanced Certified Prevention Specialist and was a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor for 20 years. She has served as Director of Prevention for the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, and Training Specialist for the University of Oklahoma’s Southwest Prevention Center, and most recently as Executive Director of LifeSteps Council on Alcohol and Drugs. She is currently Member At Large of the Board of the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium and Advisor to the Prevention Committee. Ms. Stevens serves on the Texas Certification Board of Addiction Professionals and is chair of the Prevention Subcommittee. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Baylor University and a Masters of Prevention Science from the University of Oklahoma.

In addition, Ms. Stevens is an adjunct professor for the University Of Oklahoma College Of Liberal Studies. She teaches core courses for Masters of Prevention Science Degree, including Foundations of Prevention and Prevention across the Lifespan.

Audience: This training was designed for all audiences.

Skill Level: The training is intended to serve the needs of all skill levels

An application for substance abuse specific continuing education credit has been submitted to the NCSAPPB.

Funding in whole or in part for this event was provided by the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services with funding from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services