Social Determinants of Mental Health-View Presentation

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The session, led by Raj Tempe, chair of psychiatry at Creighton University School of Medicine, delved into the impact of social determinants on mental health, particularly focusing on dementia and schizophrenia. Dr. Pallavi Joshi from the University of Arizona discussed social determinants such as isolation and loneliness, emphasizing their impact on cognitive health and mental illness in older adults. She highlighted the importance of social connections and grouped activities as protective factors against dementia, while identifying stigma, disparities in mental health care, and ageism as additional, complicating factors. Dr. Dilip Jeste, known as a mentor in psychiatry, expanded on the historical evolution and importance of addressing social determinants like early life adversity, racial discrimination, and urban living conditions in schizophrenia. He called for more effective clinical measures and interventions, advocating for a balanced assessment that includes social resilience and positive social factors. Erland Lane from the Division of Digital Psychiatry discussed novel research into digital measurements of social behavior using smartphone technology, highlighting its potential to enhance real-time monitoring and interventions, despite certain challenges encountered in clinical applications. The dialogue among the presenters emphasized the necessity for a multidisciplinary approach that considers social, psychological, and biological factors in mental health care. They urged for more comprehensive policies and practices that mitigate social determinants and promote social supports within healthcare systems.

Keywords

social determinants

mental health

dementia

schizophrenia

isolation

loneliness

cognitive health

social connections

stigma

digital psychiatry

smartphone technology

multidisciplinary approach

healthcare policies