MENTAL HEALTH: A REPORT OF THE SURGEON GENERAL-CHAPTER 2

MENTAL HEALTH: A REPORT OF THE SURGEON GENERAL-
CHAPTER 2

The surgeon general has a report out on mental illness that has a lot of well-thought information on a broad scope of mental health issues, and information on recovery from mental illnesses, too.

We are including some excerpts for the report along with a link to the site with all of the information available.

Overview of Etiology

The precise causes (etiology) of most mental disorders are not
known. But the key word in this statement is precise. The
precise causes of most mental disorders may not be known.
but the broad forces that shape them areknown: these are
biological, psychological, and social/cultural factors.

The causes of health and disease are generally viewed as a
Product of the interplay or interaction between biological,
Psychological, and socio-cultural factors. This true for all
Health and illness, including mental health and mental
Illness. For instance, diabetes and schizophrenia alike are
Viewed as the result of interactions between biological,
Psychological, and socio-cultural influences. With these
Disorders, a biological predisposition is necessary but not
Sufficient to explain their occurrence (Barondes 1993). For
Other disorders, a psychological or socio-cultural cause may
Be necessary, but again not sufficient.

Psychological and socio-cultural events continue to have
Meaning for mental health and mental illness.

http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/chapter2/sec3.html