Ebook: Determinants of Minority Mental Health and Wellness

Determinants of Minority Mental Health and Wellness

Edited by Sana Loue and Martha Sajatovic

Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland

Among members of minority groups, the experience and stigma of mental illness vary widely; the same holds true for coping, adjustment, and resilience. These views are central to a burgeoning literature analyzing the issues either by population or by diagnosis. Determinants of Minority Mental Health and Wellness complements these approaches by focusing on risk factors, protective factors, and prevention strategies across a wide range of cultural, ethnic, sexual, and other minorities. Noted contributors examine the roles played by health determinants based on the Bronfenbrenner model, beginning with larger societal dynamics and progressing to individual behavior and choices. In addition, the book pinpoints critical concepts of mental health and well-being, and refines the concept of the minority in our demographically fluid society, for coverage that is relevant, challenging, and scholarly.

Chapter authors explore risk and protective factors at four levels:

• Macrosocial: political/legal, urbanization/migration, health care systems, the media.
• Exosystemic: healing traditions, religion/spirituality, social support, education, gender, subgroups, discrimination.
• Microsystemic: family dynamics, socioeconomic status.
• Ontogenic: genetics, mental illness, cognitive functioning, stress/resilience, substance use/abuse.

Plus critical discussion is included on:

• Methodological challenges in conducting research.

• Why social systems often fall short, and what we can do to improve them.

Determinants of Minority Mental Health and Wellness gives clinicians specialized tools for tapping into client strengths, revealing new avenues for therapy. It makes a superior research reference and graduate text in a variety of fields, among them public health, psychology, sexuality, epidemiology, counseling, and social work.

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There have been numerous books published relating to minority mental health. Most of these have approached the topic from either of two perspectives. They may focus on specific minority populations and within each such section, discuss the mental illnesses affecting that population and the risk factors for mental illness. Alternatively, books have been organized around specific mental illness diagnoses and within each such discussion, have addressed the specific illness with reference to minority populations. This proposed text utilizes a completely different approach. First, we focus on minority mental health and wellness and, as such, addresses not only recognized risk factors for mental illness within specific minority populations, but also the protective factors and strategies to prevent mental illness. Second, the book will be organized around the determinants of mental health and wellness, using as a foundation Bronfenbrenner’s model that considers determinants of health at the macrosocial, exosystemic, microsystemic (e.g., family) and ontogenic (individual) levels.