The social determinants of mental health and disorder: evidence, prevention and recommendations

This paper examines the social determinants of mental health and disorder, focusing on pervasive factors across the life course and common across major mental disorders. It reviews evidence supporting a causal link between social determinants and mental health outcomes, primarily from the Global North, with a focus on marginalized groups. A preventive framework is introduced, guiding primary prevention strategies to reduce inequalities. The paper reviews evidence on candidate preventive strategies (universal, selected, indicated, secondary, and tertiary) and provides seven key recommendations framed around social justice for research, policy, and public health to intervene on modifiable social determinants affecting population mental health.

James B. Kirkbride, Deidre M. Anglin, Ian Colman, Jennifer Dykxhoorn, Peter B. Jones, Praveetha Patalay, Alexandra Pitman, Emma Soneson, Thomas Steare, Talen Wright, Siân Lowri Griffiths