This course explores the social model to studying mental health and illness. Meaning(s) and experience(s) of mental health and illness are socially produced. Experiences of mental health and illness are also influenced by socio-demographic variables (race, class, gender, age, etc.), highlighting disparities in mental health and mental health care delivery. The course examines core areas of the sociological study of mental health & illness, including theory, methods, and policy. The course also explores a variety of topical areas of interest to sociologists and mental health care professionals in the field, such as social stress, stigmatization, medicalization of mental illness, social construction of mental illness, and the social organization of mental health care.
This course fulfills one of the six content area requirements for the B.A. in Health, Medicine, and Society; it also fulfills one of the requirements for the Mental Health Awareness Certificate.
