Ibrahim Soliman

Professor Zayas

 ENG 210

10/27/24         

                                                        Literature review 

 

   

      Recent research investigates the complex relationships between mental health and socioenvironmental factors more and more. The present study will reveal which socio-economic, environmental, and social support factors influence mental health. The following literature review brings together the results of four studies, each of which illuminates a different aspect of mental health effects

Socio-Economic Factors Affecting Mental Health

The first article from SAGE Journals clearly illustrates the relationship between SES and mental health: those with lower SES have higher rates of mental illness due to stress from things like poverty, difficulty paying for health care, and social stigma. Confirming these findings, the MDPI article indicates how financial insecurity raises anxiety levels and is detrimental to mental health. Both studies bring out the fact that chronic economic stress becomes cumulative over a period of time for individuals, indicating the gravity that necessitates focused economic and policy interventions.

 

Environmental Factors and Well-Being 

This article in ScienceDirect looked at how environmental factors, especially those living in cities, affected mental health. Evidence supports that crowded city areas and few green spaces are directly associated with an increased risk of anxiety and depression. The authors give some recommendations for urban planning methods incorporating nature to reduce these negative effects. Research from the National Institutes of Health demonstrates that access to green spaces protects people, makes them stronger, and reduces stress. These studies show that good city design can greatly improve mental illness and physical illness.

 

Health Interventions and Their Effectiveness

The next section reviews different treatment methods, both psychological and medication. Evidence suggests that the combination of psychotherapy and lifestyle intervention, in conjunction with community support, is the most effective treatment. For example, individuals who receive comprehensive programs of diet, exercise, and social engagement, in combination with usual care, show larger changes. The evidence from this review underscores the necessity for whole and diverse mental health strategies. Previous findings support the usefulness of this approach by underpinning the interrelation of various risk factors.

 

The Importance of Others’ Help

In this line of thought, social support becomes a crucial buffer against mental health challenges, as elaborated in the MDPI article. Strong social networks may offset the deleterious consequences of low SES on adaptation and emotional well-being. The SAGE article goes further in explaining how community-based interventions strengthen resilience, especially for economically weak populations. There is an all-important theme here: the creation of meaningful connections and a community support system is very important for promoting mental health. 

 

Conclusion 

This review shows that many different factors affect mental health. It points out how socio-economic status, environmental conditions, health interventions, and social support interact with each other. The same findings in these studies suggest the need for community-based strategies that tackle both personal and wider issues. Future research should look at these interactions in different populations, with the goal of finding effective mental health interventions that fit various cultures.

 

Works Cited

Baratti, R. M. (2023). Environmental injustice as a multiplier of injustice and human insecurity: The cases of Boko Haram and the Taliban. Environmental Justice, 16(3). https://doi.org/10.1089/env.2022.0060

Briggs, D., et al. (2008). Environmental inequity in England: Small area associations between socio-economic status and environmental pollution. Social Science & Medicine, 67(10), 1612–1629. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2008.06.040

Mathiarasan, S., & Hüls, A. (2021). Impact of environmental injustice on children’s health—Interaction between air pollution and socioeconomic status. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(2). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18020618

Hassaniyan, A. (2024). Iran’s water policy: Environmental injustice and peripheral marginalization. Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment. https://doi.org/10.1177/03091333241252523