Public Health Intelligence and Epidemiology (AC7028)
Public Mental Health
(Epidemiology of Mental Health)
Dr Richard Lee
Tom Nicholson
, Objectives
• To gain an overview of public mental health
• To consider key issues in contemporary public mental
health
• “As one of the major disciplines underpinning the study
of public health, epidemiology concerns itself with the
analysis of time, place, and person…if we are to
unpack the epidemiological study of place we need
help from social sciences, anthropology and lived
experience…” [Ashton and Levin, 2021]
, What is public mental health?
• “We endorse the statement that there is no health
without mental health. Mental health is central to the
human, social and economic capital of nations and
should therefore be considered as an integral and
essential part of other public policy areas such as
human rights, social care, education and employment.”
(WHO European Declaration on Mental Health, 2005)
, What is public mental health?
• Wahlbeck (2015): “Public mental health deals with
mental health promotion, prevention of mental
disorders and suicide, reducing mental health
inequalities, and governance and organization of
mental health service provision.”
• “Major individual socio-economic risk factors for mental
health problems and suicide are poverty, poor
education, unemployment, high debt, social isolation
and major life events.”
• Who might be a ‘high risk’ group…and why?
Public Mental Health
(Epidemiology of Mental Health)
Dr Richard Lee
Tom Nicholson
, Objectives
• To gain an overview of public mental health
• To consider key issues in contemporary public mental
health
• “As one of the major disciplines underpinning the study
of public health, epidemiology concerns itself with the
analysis of time, place, and person…if we are to
unpack the epidemiological study of place we need
help from social sciences, anthropology and lived
experience…” [Ashton and Levin, 2021]
, What is public mental health?
• “We endorse the statement that there is no health
without mental health. Mental health is central to the
human, social and economic capital of nations and
should therefore be considered as an integral and
essential part of other public policy areas such as
human rights, social care, education and employment.”
(WHO European Declaration on Mental Health, 2005)
, What is public mental health?
• Wahlbeck (2015): “Public mental health deals with
mental health promotion, prevention of mental
disorders and suicide, reducing mental health
inequalities, and governance and organization of
mental health service provision.”
• “Major individual socio-economic risk factors for mental
health problems and suicide are poverty, poor
education, unemployment, high debt, social isolation
and major life events.”
• Who might be a ‘high risk’ group…and why?
