DOES SOCIAL CLASS

AFFECT YOUR MENTAL

HEALTH?
Kara Hay, RDMS
Junior
Bachelor degree in Diagnostic Medical
Sonography
Objectives:

Define social class

What are some of the social factors that are involved

Who does it affect (mental illness)

What are the different types of mental illness

How does mental illness affect society


Social class is a powerful structure in everyones life. Social class is a group of people who have
similar amount of wealth, status and power in everyday society. German social theorist, Max Weber,
has created a hierarchical pyramid that includes five classes that include from the top, 1. upper
class, 2. upper-middle class,, 3. lower-middle class, 4. working class and 5. the lower class.
Social class includes level of education, occupation, wealth and status

Status indicates a persons level of social identity within society, how much the
person is esteemed by other people in society

Wealth is objective plane of a persons social rank depending on how much
money and material possessions they possess

Education is the amount of knowledge that one possesses and uses to their
benefit to further themselves in society

Occupation is the persons job, their employment status and work conditions

The most important factor of health in social class is education

With more education, people have more knowledge about health and their
choices to live a healthy lifestyle including diet, exercise, no smoking, and going to
see the doctor for preventative care and medical treatment when necessary



SOCIAL FACTORS:

A social factor is what makes up a persons individuality and life style.

Some examples are race, religion, gender, socioeconomic status,
education and where you live (environment).

These factors can influence your social class and your health lifestyle.

This affects everyone in all age categories.




Mental illness is a medical condition that can disrupt a persons thinking, feeling, their
mood, how they relate to other people and even daily functioning.

Mental illness can affect anyone at anytime.

Serious mental illnesses includes major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder,
obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, anxiety disorder, post traumatic stress
disorder and borderline personality disorders.

These mental illnesses are treatable with an individual plan that can include
prescription medications and therapy. Some of the different therapies include
cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, peer support groups and
community programs and services.

Mental illness is widespread in the United States and affects approximately one in four
American adults every year (approximately 57.7 million Americans). About one in 17
lives with a serious mental illness and about one in 10 children live with a serious
mental or emotional disorder.



Mental illness facts and numbers:

About 2.4 million Americans live with schizophrenia.

About 5.7 million Americans are affected with bipolar disorder.

About 14.8 million Americans ae affected with major depression and this is the
leading cause of disability in the United States and Canada between the ages of
15- 44 years old.

About an estimated 40 million adults are affected with anxiety disorders, including
panic disorder, OCD disorder, PTSD disorder, and generalized anxiety disorders and
phobias. Anxiety disorders can co-exist with depression or other addiction
disorders.

About 5.2 million adults have co-existing mental health and addiction disorders.

Mental illness can strike individuals in the prime of their lives- in adolescence and
young adulthood. All ages are included, but the young and old are very
vulnerable.
Those who have a lower social class or socioeconomic status include
homeless persons, women, minorities and those with low education.

Approximately 26 percent of homeless adults that live in shelters live with a serious
mental illness and approximately 46 percent live with a severe mental illness.

Those in lower social class including racial and ethnic minorities are less likely to
have access to mental health services and often do not get the help the need.

Fewer than one-third and one-half of children with mental illness receive the
health service they need.

This is linked with poverty and people can not afford the treatment or the
prescription medications they need in order to manage their illness.

Out of those with claim they have had a serious psychological distress, only about
38 percent had gone in to get treatment for their illness.




There is an association between lower social class and mental health.
Those who are in the lower class have a higher rate of psychological
distress because of the lack of resources to health care, living in a poor
environment or dangerous neighborhood, lack of education and lack of
employment or monetary supply. They cannot afford the medication that
a doctor might prescribe or get any therapy or follow-up care for their
illness.

These people also might not have access to a good support system or to a
community service program.

Minorities and women are exposed to a higher level of these stressors. They
are less likely to have access to mental health services and often receive
poor quality of health care.

Women are often single mothers taking care of their families, sometimes
without any help from outside sources.

Those who are incarcerated have a history of mental illness and health
disorders and that includes those adolescents in the juvenile system as well.





Mental Health Treatment in America and the impact on America

About 60 percent of adults with a mental illness did not receive any mental
health services and that includes about one-half of youth aged from 8 to 15
years of age in the past year.

African Americans and Hispanic Americans only used mental health services
at about one-half the rate of whites and about one-third of Asian Americans
in the past year.

In the United States serious mental illness costs approx $193.2 billion in lost
earnings per year.

Those who are affected with serious mental illness face an increased risk of
having other chronic medical conditions.

Adults that have serious mental illness die on the average 25 years earlier
than other Americans.

More than 90 percent of those who commit suicide have a treatable mental
disorder.


Suicide is the eleventh leading cause of death and the third leading cause of
death for those who are between the ages of 10-24 years in the United States.

Male veterans are twice as likely to die by suicide compared to the rest of the
population in the United States.

Veterans represent approximately 20 percent of suicides nationally.

There is a stigma that is associated with mental illness. They sometimes cause
people to think that mental illness is not a real or treatable health illness. This
can cause those who have mental illness to not get the help they need.

The consequence of mental illness can be financially staggering. Not getting
treatment can cause unnecessary disability, unemployment, substance
abuse, incarceration and suicide. This is such a loss of our resources and a loss
of precious life.

Treatment and identification of mental illness is very important to minimalize
the loss of revenue and loss of life.


Social class does affect mental illness and getting the appropriate treatment is
essential to manage this disease. Community outreach programs and support
groups are needed to get the word out to those who are in need for help. Even
with the Affordable Healthcare Act of 2012 that helps those who do not have
access to insurance, is not enough to get those who are in the lower social class
and lower socioeconomic status to get help, although it is helpful. Having social
workers and nurses follow up with those in need, or having a clinic that is
conveniently located could be a help to those who cannot get out to get
treatment.

References:

1. Belle, D. (1990). Poverty and womens mental health. American psychologist 45.3
(3), 385.

2. Gottfredson, L.S. (2004). Intelligence: is it the epidemiologists elusive fundamental
cause of social class inequalities in health?. Journal of personality and social
psychology, 86 (1). 174

3. Aneshensel, C. S., Rutter, C. M., & Lachenbruch, P. A. (1991). Social structure, stress,
and mental health: Competing conceptual and analytic models. American
Sociological Review, 166-178.

4. Hollingshead, A. B., & Redlich, F. C. (1958). Social class and mental illness:
Community study.

5. Artazcoz, L., Benach, J., Borrell, C., & Cortes, I. (2004). Unemployment and mental
health: understanding the interactions among gender, family roles, and social
class. American Journal of public health, 94(1), 82-88.

6. Cockerhman, William C. 2012 Medical Sociology, 12
th
edition Boston:Prentice Hall