IMPROVING POPULATION HEALTH BY ADDRESSING SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF MENTAL HEALTH

Abstract

This study examined the social determinants of mental health as influential factors on health outcomes. Three research studies comprised the dissertation. The first study was a systematic review that identified factors linking common mental disorders to the incidence of the four most prevalent non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Interventions to prevent poor health should target smokers, the elderly, women, and individuals with fewer than 12 years of schooling, according to findings. The second mixed-method study found that the pandemic and its control measures negatively impacted social determinants of mental health and health outcomes, with women, children and informal workers in Gaza being most affected. Some of the strategies deployed by the United Nations for the Relief and Works Agency in the Near East (UNRWA), such as the use of telemedicine, warrant further investigation for efficiency and acceptability. The third study assessed UNRWA's mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) response addressing the social determinants of mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. During Group Model Building (GMB) workshops, participants shared their perspectives on what UNRWA did and how it addressed the vulnerabilities of Palestine refugees in Gaza during the health crisis. Findings suggested improving community wellbeing and enhancing staff support for better future pandemic preparedness. The PhD concludes that addressing social determinants of mental health is a joint responsibility between state and non-state actors and that it is necessary to reduce health inequities to lessen the global burden of disease. In addition to rigorous testing and contact tracing, addressing these determinants during crises, for example by distributing financial aid to poor families and strengthening social services, should be bolstered. This is especially important because evidence suggests that enhancing the socioeconomic status of individuals reduces health inequities and improves health outcomes.