You are in: South America
Change location

You are here

Book > Textbooks > Sociology of Health & Illness
The Sociology of Mental Health and Illness
Share
Share

The Sociology of Mental Health and Illness

First Edition
June 2022 | 448 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
Download flyer
The Sociology of Mental Health and Illness explains sociology’s key contributions to our understanding of mental health, and serves as a strong counterpoint to the medical approach to the subject. Using both micro and macro-level  theories, particularly social constructionism, the text shows the subjective nature of mental illness  and systems of diagnosis and treatment. It also emphasizes how social conditions and relationships create life pathways toward mental health and psychological struggles, and uses the concept of "patient career" to describe how individuals interact with mental health professionals. In addition, the text explores the connections between mental health and social problems such as terrorism, substance abuse, criminal violence, suicide, and domestic violence.
 
Chapter 1 Introduction to the Sociology of Mental Illness
 
Chapter 2 Mental Illness in History
 
Chapter 3 Sociology’s Theories of Mental Illness
 
Chapter 4 Prevalence and Costs of Mental Illness
 
Chapter 5 Social Class and Mental Illness
 
Chapter 6 Race and Ethnicity
 
Chapter 7 Mental Health and Gender
 
Chapter 8 Mental Health over the Life Course
 
Chapter 9 Communities and Organizations
 
Chapter 10 Social Problems and Disasters
 
Chapter 11 The Career of Mental Health Patients
 
Chapter 12 The Medicalization of Social and Psychological Problems
 
Chapter 13 International Mental Health
 
Chapter 14 Mental Health Policy and the Law
 
Epilogue
 
Appendix 1 Glossary of Diagnostic Categories
 
Appendix 2 Glossary of Key Terms
 
Bibliography
Key features
  • Uses both micro and macro-level theories, particularly social constructionism, to understand the social aspects of mental health and illness.
  • Focuses on the material conditions of social stress—health disparities, structural inequalities, and diversity—and their relationship to mental illness.
  • Provides a thorough and innovative examination of the "patient career"--how consumers of mental health services assume a psychiatric sick role, and interact with professional caregivers and the medical system.
  • Explores the connections between mental health and social problems such as terrorism, substance abuse, criminal violence, suicide, and domestic violence.