Mental Illness As A Social Problem In Sociology Essay

The occurrence of mental illness has been rising in recent years, with many people reporting the development of mental health issues. These mental illnesses include, to OCD, anxiety, substance abuse, anti-social behaviour and schizophrenia to name a few. There are some that argue that mental illness is an individual issue, not influenced by factors outside the personal experience. This essay will argue that mental illness is a social problem, with a particular focus on the topics of gender and poverty. Defining mental illness and the concept of a social problem gives a basis for the topic. In addition to this, the different way gender influences mental illness is examined as well as prominent sociological theories associated with gender and society. Also examined is the effect poverty has on mental illness and the sociological theories that are associated with poverty and society. Finally, the biomedical model and the need for appropriate medical and health policies will be discussed.
To argue that mental illness is a social problem, there first needs to be a definition of what these two things are. A social problem or issue is a condition …show more content…
There still many instances in which gender roles are evident in a society which is why many sociologists tend to talk in terms of sex rather than gender. Sex relates to the biological side of an individual, whereas gender is used when discussing men and women in a social context (Van Krieken, Smith, Habibis, McDonald, Haralambos & Holborn, 2000). Not only does gender determine an individual’s role in society, it also determines an individual’s health prospects. Mental illness can be seen in both genders, with no real distinction between the experiences felt by either gender (Mendrek, 2011). However, in terms of diagnosis and treatment gender plays an enormous role in the overall health outcomes achieved (Horfsall, 2001; Rogers-Clark, Kyle & Wilson,