Inga Mikutavičienė, Jūratė Guščinskienė
Abstract
The interacting biological, psychological and social factors are equally important in the genesis of mental health problems, so the social aspects of health will inevitably become a ground for an effective treatment and care. The aim of the study is to reveal the structure and content of the social-related health problems on the basis of the mentally disabled people experience. The in-depth interview was conducted with four mentally ill participants. The study revealed that the social health aspects of mentally ill persons causes the set of interacting social factors such as quantitative and qualitative changes in the social network, limited opportunities for social participation, lack of activities, unemployment, poverty and dependent status, negative public attitudes, stigma and discrimination, revealed to terms with the prevailing stereotypes in a public area. Perhaps the most notable social health problem is connected to the stigma and discrimination against disabled people. This phenomenon pervades all other aspects of social health. On stereotypical assumptions employers reluctant to hire people with mental disabilities. In this case, limited social participation, employment opportunities increased social isolation, leads to „rebound“ phenomenon – the growing social exclusion and poverty, declining social experiences decreases the efficiency of the treatment and prognosis. And vice versa.
Article in Lithuanian
doi:10.5200/sm-hs.2012.006
Keyword(s): social dimension of health; disability; mental disability
DOI: 10.5200/247
Full Text: PDF