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Social Class And Mental Health Essay

1500 Words6 Pages

There is a significant link between social class and mental health. Mental health has been around since historic times however was not considered an illness until the 12th century. Mental health is defined as ‘Anyone who is regarded by someone as disturbed enough to require hospitalization or treatment, and people who do not fit into such diagnoses are mentally healthy’. (W. Scott, 1958). Social class is the way society is divided based on an individual’s economic status and wealth. Evidence suggests social class has an impact on mental health. Individuals from lower economic backgrounds have increased mental health compared to those of a higher social class. In this essay I will begin by discussing the correlation between social class and …show more content…

According to a journal written in 1978 ‘social class is a principal aspect of social structure relevant to the psychological well-being of the individual’ (Liem R. Liem J. 1978). This means that social class plays a major role in one’s psychological state proving that if an individual is of a lower social class this can result in poor psychological well-being. Common mental illnesses that often occurs due to social class are depression, substance abuse and anxiety, this is usually due to a variety of factors including: discrimination, poor living conditions and limited access to resources. Statistics show that 45% of people in low-income brackets have been diagnosed with severe mental health …show more content…

Mental health is openly discussed amongst white, middle-class women however it is more stigmatised around men, black and Asian communities and those in rural areas. This is usually due to these communities being smaller therefore word will spread quicker. A study that was conducted in 1997 Appalachia, which is a rural state in the United States, studied psychiatric disorders amongst Appalachian youths. They found that youths from lower socioeconomic backgrounds were at higher risk of developing psychiatric disorders. Poverty, stress and violence were all factors that brought upon mental

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