Summary

The social determinants of health, defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), encompass the circumstances in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, as well as the forces and systems that influence their living conditions. Daily these conditions vary considerably among different population groups, resulting in disparities in health outcomes, including mental health. Some of these disparities may be inevitable, while others are avoidable and unnecessary, becoming inequities that require intersectoral political actions to promote equity.

It is essential to recognize and address social determinants that can have a direct or indirect impact on mental health, such as poverty, systemic racism, and stigma, as well as unequal access and provision to critical services such as health, education, housing, and employment. These determinants are linked to the origin of mental health problems, variations throughout the course of the disease, and their direct consequences on mental health and life in general. The ability to intervene in some of these social determinants represents the challenge of transforming them to mitigate or eliminate adverse consequences and reduce mental health inequities. In this way, the onset of mental health problems can be prevented; mental health can be promoted in populations, and contribute to the mental health recovery approach, which focuses on empowering people to take control of their own lives.

Webinar objectives:

1. Provide a broad understanding of the social determinants of mental health, addressing their role as potential risk or protective factors through global scientific evidence and regional examples.
2. Promote the importance of multi-sector collaboration based on human rights and integrate mental health into all relevant policies and sectors, such as social protection, education, housing, work, security and justice.
3. Provide strategies and resources to address the social determinants of mental health, including the prevention of disorders and the promotion of well-being, by identifying and addressing these determinants.
4. Facilitate the exchange of experiences between mental health professionals and representatives of other sectors, as well as people with their own experience, during the webinar.