The social model of mental health has been developed by people who have experienced mental health problems (including some psychiatrists).

They teach that mental health is affected by social causes and is not a problem within the individual.

For example; it is well documented that working class people who are poor, are at greater risk of developing mental health issues than middle class people.

Race is also a factor, and black people are overly represented in mental health institutions. Woman are far more likely to be detained in mental health institutions than men.

The social model seeks to educate people and enable them to regain control of their lives. The social model of mental health is not at all popular, it is argued that its political content is far too challenging as its main aim is to expose ‘mental illness’ as a form of social control.

 

Social causes; Society creates inequality, for example, earning power is related to a persons’ social class. Middle class boys and girls benefit more from the education system because they are taught differently and teachers usually have higher expectations for them than they would for a working class boy or girl. Also people from a middle class background will be far less likely to be affected by unemployment or poverty, so their reality will be completely different to working class children. This is not to say that middle class girls or boys do not experiences physical, emotional or sexual abuse. Abuse of children is widespread and cuts across social class. It is important to highlight that poverty is an added dimension that has a major impact on children and adults self belief, confidence and ability to make a decent living.