discrimination
ex: excludes people because of their gender, race, religion, ethnicity, age etc.
exclusion can lead to inequities in income and mental health
systemic discrimination → health care and government exclusion
gender
ex: some countries ban women’s education = educational inequity which can lead to poor health literacy and overall disadvantaged health
gender discrimination = poor mental health
income inequity (gender wage gap)
access to health care
ex: poor access → no treatment for disease/injury
unemployment
ex: creates inequities as the people have little to no income and therefore are at high risk of developing physical and mental due to not being able to afford healthcare as well as having financial stress.
social isolation
ex: higher risks of mental health problems without a good social network
displacement of land
people who have been displaced from their homes are at higher risks of suffering from preventable illness
may have mistrust in new healthcare system
poor literacy
poor social network
grieving for their homeland and customs
occupation
can be unsafe → high risk of injury or illness
occupational environments can be unsatisfactory and discriminatory → high risk of poor mental health
access to education
highly education person can be aware of the signs and symptoms of illness, have higher health literacy and are likely to earn a higher income making access to healthcare and achieving good health more likely
geographic location
where you live determines your level of access to many things like education, healthcare and food; and risk of natural disasters
racism
racism can lead to individuals refusing to seek help or healthcare which can result in health conditions worsening
racist experiences can be detrimental to an individual’s mental health
government policy
if you live in a place where the government policy doesn’t recognise you (e.g. same sex marriage) you may feel socially isolated and suffer from relevant health issues
socioeconomic status
high SES = more access to health insurance, medical care, nutritious food, quality education
low SES = poorer quality education, poor health literacy → inequities like higher rates of substance abuse or unplanned pregnancy/STIs
poor health literacy
positive/good health literacy = knowing where and when to seek help, understanding how to prevent serious conditions and can follow all medical instructions → positive health status
low health literacy = more at risk of injury and illness