When we consider mental health, we tend to think about what’s happening in the mind, such as stress, anxiety, or depression. But what if the actual causes of poor mental health are things we see all around us and don’t even notice? Such as where a person lives, how much money they earn, or if they feel safe in their community can insidiously influence the way people feel mentally and emotionally. These are referred to as social determinants, and they contribute a great deal more to mental health than people know.
Let’s simplify it.
What Are Social Determinants and Why Do They Matter
Social determinants are everyday life factors that influence health. They’re not about biology or brain chemistry. They’re about the environment around us. Think of things like job opportunities, access to education, transportation, clean water, food, housing, and even community support. When these areas are lacking, they create stress, pressure, and emotional exhaustion over time. This is true not only in the US but in India and many other countries too.
For instance, a person who resides in a crime-ridden poor neighborhood might always be on guard. Or a person who does not have a stable job might feel under constant financial stress. These conditions gradually erode mental health.
Money Issues and Mental Illness Go Hand in Hand
Money contributes significantly to mental health. Individuals who cannot afford rent, food, or medical care tend to have chronic stress. Even in the US, with health insurance, therapy or medication can prove costly. That deters a lot of individuals from seeking assistance when they need it. In India, mental health care is not affordable or accessible for most of the population.
This economic distress doesn’t just create anxiety. It can generate depression, lack of sleep, anxiety attacks, and low self-esteem. It becomes a loop. Individuals are unable to get help, and because they’re unable to afford help, things deteriorate about their mental wellbeing.
Housing Conditions and Mental Well-being
Where we stay and how it is also influences the way we feel. In the US, a lot of families reside in areas with noise pollution, damaged infrastructure, or even no green. Densely populated or precarious housing conditions, such as staying with several families or facing the threat of losing a residence, lead to long-lasting stress.
Back in India, people are usually going through daily life with water scarcity, electricity outages, and bad sanitation. These little everyday challenges are not easy to live with and it’s not easy to sit back and relax, or just feel peaceful. Having no time to ever even find a secure place to breathe slowly is quite tough on the mind.
Education, Opportunities, and Hope for a Better Life
When an individual is raised in an area with quality schools, libraries, and vocational skill centers, it provides hope for them. They begin to think that they can create a better life. However, neighborhoods with subpar schools and no network support tend to make youth feel trapped and hopeless.
In the US and India, poor education levels correlate to lower career opportunities. This results in pressure, low income, and diminished confidence. When individuals do not feel in charge of their own life or destiny, mental health suffers.
Support Systems and Community Make a Big Difference
We are social beings. We all require people to communicate with, to laugh with, and to count on. In certain communities, individuals live miles away from their families or do not know who their neighbors are. In these communities, one can easily become lonely or isolated. That loneliness contributes to depression and anxiety.
Strong social bonds, however, do make a big difference. Whether it’s a local support group, church, temple, or just a neighbor who stops by every so often, feeling heard and understood is a powerful thing. In Indian culture, shared families tend to do this. In the US, though, people tend to live alone, particularly older people, which heightens feelings of loneliness.
Jobs, Respect, and a Sense of Purpose
Employment is about more than making money. It provides individuals with a purpose for rising in the morning. It makes them feel productive and valued. Unstable employment or unemployment has a way of eroding self-worth and making an individual doubt themselves.
In the US and India, employment-related stress is a major reason individuals go for mental health assistance. But when there is little work or poisonous work environments, the harm can become more serious. Lacking a voice at work, underpayment, or feeling replaceable can result in burnout, anxiety, and emotional detachment.
How Can Things Change
We can’t fix mental illness issues simply by providing additional therapists or medication. That’s part of it. True transformation comes when we focus on causes rather than symptoms. That requires creating better neighborhoods, providing education and healthcare access, providing job skills training, and ensuring individuals are safe and well-supported in where they live.
Government funding, non-profit initiatives, and even corporate entities can be involved. Simple acts like community events, free skill workshops, mobile clinics, and mental health drives can help.
Mental health is influenced by more than what happens between the ears. It’s influenced by the world around us, our homes, our jobs, our families and friends, our finances, and what we have for support. To change mental health in the US, and even in places like India, we must address these everyday circumstances. Because when the world outside feels better, the world inside goes back to health.
