The sociology of mental health and illness

This chapter explores the significant contribution that sociology makes to the understanding of mental health and illness. It does so by considering three broad areas. First, the changing way ‘mental troubles’, to use a broad term, are defined and classified, their broadening boundaries, the professionals involved, and the stigma they generate. Second, the social distribution and social causes of mental troubles, including the importance of both traumas and stressors in producing mental ill-health. And third, the changes over time in the mental health services, the treatments provided and their recipients, as well as users’ experiences of the services.