Determinants of Health & Mental Health

When discussing health, I believe it is important to identify the various components. The determinants of health cover a variety of factors that affect the population (Canada, 2001). I have attached a list of the current main determinants of health.

It’s interesting to relate the above determinants of health to my profession in psychiatry. I work with vulnerable and marginalized people daily, and in viewing the factors that can contribute to one’s well-being, it becomes quite clear why so many are in need of support. But where to start?

During this week’s readings and findings, it became evident that the determinants of health can directly affect one’s mental health. It is clear that we need to support the development of various determinants of health..but how?

In a report by Croft, the approach of self-direction was discussed when treating people who suffer with mental illness, and how it lead to better quality of life while promoting various determinants of health (2020). What is self direction?

“Self-direction—an approach in which people with serious mental health conditions choose the services and supports that work best for them to support their recovery—is a tool that can directly and uniquely promote the social determinants of health by expanding the bounds of traditional service delivery to address the needs of the whole person” (Croft, 2020).

The approach is simple. Ask the patient what is important to them, what are their true priorities, and where they believe they could benefit from extra support. Having the patient discuss their needs helps us navigate gaps in their care and can lead to better care in the future. The person themselves, Croft identifies, is the real expert, and a great resource when determining what needs are being met and what needs are not (2020).

I had never heard of this term prior to reading the report, however, I have been unknowingly practicing self direction when caring for my patients. Promotion of autonomy is important in mental health since often patients can feel powerless. The majority of patients I work with are certified under the Mental Health Act, meaning they have quite limited decision-making abilities. Self-direction encourages independence and decision making in people with mental illness. I believe that by using this approach we are able to best support the development of various determinants of health of the individual, which will support mental wellness.

Canada, P. H. A. of. (2001, November 25). Social determinants of health and health inequalities [Policies]. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health-promotion/population-health/what-determines-health.html

Croft, B. (2020, January 11). Self-direction and the Social Determinants of Health.: Discover for Scholarly Articles. https://eds.p.ebscohost.com/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=1&sid=8b86ac9b-5340-4a65-bc4e-d61502815bec%40redis