Main description:

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.

Contents:

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