Depression

Depression

1. Bio- Medical Model. "explains health in terms of biology" (open.edu)

   • Sarah Nettletons five assumptions of heath.
     • Reductionist- doesn't take other factors into consideration
       • Mind/body dualism- the mind and body can be treated separately.
         • Mechanical metaphor- body is perceived as a machine and can be traced like that. for example for depression- just give medicine.
           • Technological imperative- the invention of things like X-rays and MRI machines.
             • Doctrine of specific aetiology- assumption that every disease and illness is caused by a specific entity. For depression this could be a chemical imbalance in the brain.

2. Social Models of health.'The body is a cultural construction, and that is how it is understood" (Duden)

   • where you live/ work can affect your mental health e.g. harsh working conditions
   • stress
     • on going stress can affect your mental health
   • Organic and holistic
   • some social determinants of health include; social standing, where you work, lifestyle, economic situation and culture.
   • Emerged in the 1970s many members of society were not in good health despite improvements in medicine

3. Lay Perspectives of health- A non proffessionas view of health. "Requires an understanding of how people maintain their health" (Nettleton)

   • personal, cultural and social influences
     • Depression is often perceived in a society as negatively.
     • Told to just "cheer up"
     • just feeling "under the weather"
   • reflect personal circumstances and experience of health and illness
   • Health belief model- focus is on your attitudes and beliefs- if you have negative thoughts about yourself, this could affect your mental health
   • The non- professionals view of health.

4. Bio-Pysco-social Model. (Engel) "all three levels, biological, psychological and social, must be taken into account in every health care task"

   • Holistic view of health.
   • Biological- refers to germs and toxins. In relation to depression this could be a chemical imbalance in the brain.
   • Psychological- negative thinking and emotional turmoil can affet your mental health
   • Social- stressors of work and your social standing could affect your mental heath.