Abstract:
This book lends credence to the social sciences as basis for the
study of mental health and mental illness. It is committed to
bringing a public health approach to the study and treatment
of persons wiith mental illness. The public health view has now
gained some traction in nationss health agenda, with a renewed
interest in social determinants of health and socioeconomic dis-
parities.
A vital issue that engages every aspect of mental health and
practice is the conceptualization of mental health itself. It is
seen most usefully in terma of discrrete disorders or in terms of
continua of mood and function. There is a resurgence of interest
in conceptualizing positive mental health as well, even though
determining the role of culture and values in framing what is
seen as positive remains a difficult challenge.
The question remains whether social understanding is en-
hanced more by a focus on discrete disorders as defined by the
DSM or ICD classifications, or whether we might benefit more
by turning attention to dimensional conceptualizations and in-
quiries. Both are important and resond to different purposes and
needs, however, it is clear that the balance among approaches
requires reexamination.
