Social Determinants of Mental Health Convening-Impact of Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Assessments in Psychiatry

Video Transcription

Video Summary

This educational program, sponsored by the APA, delves into the social determinants of mental health, bringing together experts such as Dr. Vivian Pender and Dr. Dilip Jesti. The main focus is on how social determinants like poverty, violence, and migration impact mental health care quality and accessibility. Dr. Pender highlighted her observations on the social determinants of mental health throughout her career, emphasizing how adverse lifelong experiences, whether from serious mental illnesses or traumatic experiences, significantly affect psychiatric patients. The COVID-19 pandemic further exposed disparities in health care access, underlining a public health perspective's importance.<br /><br />Dr. Jesti added perspectives on the evolving discussion about social determinants, stating the significance of gathering solid evidence to influence policy changes. He also stressed the minimal consideration given to social determinants in tools like the DSM and advocated for their inclusion to ensure better diagnosis and treatment plans. He presented findings from several studies showing strong associations between certain social determinants and mental health issues like schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, and suicidality.<br /><br />The panelists suggest integrating social determinants into psychiatric assessments and teaching medical students and residents about their importance. They proposed a prevention approach that involves querying patients about their needs to understand better and address their specific social contexts. The presentations stressed the necessity of considering these determinants dynamically, suggesting periodic assessments of patients' social factors. The discussion ultimately aimed to support the development of practical strategies for clinicians, particularly those in solo practices, to address these issues effectively in their work.

Keywords

social determinants

mental health

APA program

Dr. Vivian Pender

Dr. Dilip Jesti

health care access

COVID-19 disparities

psychiatric assessments

policy changes

preventive approach