Space, Place and Mental Health (Geographies of Health)

Book Title: Mental Health and the Social Environment
Author: Sarah Curtis
Brand: Taylor & Francis Ltd
Edition: 1
Binding: Paperback
Number of Pages: 316
Release Date: 11-11-2016
EAN: 9781138260009
Package Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
Languages: English

Description:
This book emphasizes the importance of mental public health and its connection to the social and physical environment. Mental distress and illnesses, such as stress and anxiety, are significant causes of disability, and their relationship to environmental risks is explored in detail. The book poses critical questions about how and why the social and physical environment plays a crucial role in mental health and psychological wellbeing.

Drawing from health geography, sociology, psychology, and other disciplines, the author examines the interactions between people and their environments. The book begins with a theoretical framework for understanding how attributes of ‘space’ and ‘place’ are linked to mental wellbeing. It then explores how material environments (natural and built landscapes), social environments (community relationships), and symbolic or imagined spaces (personal, cultural, spiritual meanings) influence mental health. These connections are shown to be complex, with the potential for either beneficial or harmful effects on mental health.

The final chapters discuss spaces of care and public mental health policies, offering a broader perspective on how mental health can be improved at the population level. The book includes case studies, chapter summaries, and suggestions for further reading, making it a comprehensive introduction for students of health geography, public health, sociology, and anthropology of health and illness. It also provides an interdisciplinary review of relevant literature, making it valuable for both students and advanced researchers.