The Sociology of Mental Health and Illness

Allen Furr

• Publisher: SAGE Publications, Inc
• Year: 2022
• Print ISBN:
  9781071815533
• eBook ISBN:
  9781071815519
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Index: Social Sciences

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.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Brief Contents
• Detailed Contents
• Preface
• About the Author
• Acknowledgements
• 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
• Index