Social capital and mental health

Henderson, A. S.; Whiteford, Harvey

doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(03)14150-5

Cited by 61 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 173 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…115 It has also been critiqued in its application to mental health, with differences of opinion over the merits of applying it as a population-or individual-level concept. 116 In this study we apply social capital at the level of the individual. An important distinction has been drawn in the literature between three forms of social capital that can be accessed from different contacts: bonding, bridging and linking capital.…”

Section: Social Capitalmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improving community health networks for people with severe mental illness: a case study investigation

Pinfold

Sweet

Porter³

et al. 2015

Health Services and Delivery Research

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

IntroductionPolicy drivers in mental health to address personal recovery, stigma and poor physical health indicate that new service solutions are required. This study aimed to understand how connections to people, places and activities were utilised by individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) to benefit health and wellbeing.MethodsA five-module mixed-methods design was undertaken in two study sites. Data were collected from 150 network-mapping interviews and 41 in-depth follow-up interviews with people with SMI; in-depth interviews with 30 organisation stakeholders and 12 organisation leaders; and 44 telephone interviews with practitioners. We undertook a three-stage synthesis process including independent lived experience feedback, and a patient and public involvement team participated in tool design, data collection, analysis and write-up.ResultsThree personal network types were found in our study using the community health network approach: diverse and active; family and stable; formal and sparse. Controlled for other factors we found only four variables significantly associated with which network type a participant had: living alone or not; housing status; formal education; long-term sickness or disability. Diagnosis was not a factor. These variables are challenging to address but they do point to potential for network change. The qualitative interviews with people with SMI provided further understanding of connection-building and resource utilisation. We explored individual agency across each network type, and identified recognition of the importance and value of social support and active connection management alongside the risks of isolation, even for those most affected by mental illness. We identified tensions in personal networks, be that relationships with practitioners or families, dealing with the impact of stigma, or frustrations of not being in employment, which all impact on network resources and well-being. The value of connectedness within personal networks of people, place and activity for supporting recovery was evident in shaping identity, providing meaning to life and sense of belonging, gaining access to new resources, structuring routines and helping individuals ‘move on’ in their recovery journey.Health-care practitioners recognised that social factors were important in recovery but reported system-level barriers (workload, administrative bureaucracy, limited contact time with clients) in addressing these issues fully. Even practitioners working in third-sector services whose remit involved increasing clients’ social connection faced restrictions due to being evaluated by outcome criteria that limited holistic recovery-focused practices. Service providers were keen to promote recovery-focused approaches. We found contrasts between recovery ideology within mental health policy and recovery practice on the ground. In particular, the social aspects of supporting people with SMI are often underprioritised in the health-care system. In a demanding and changing context, strategic multiagency working was seen as crucial but we found few examples of embedded multisector organisation partnerships.ConclusionWhile our exploratory study has limitations, findings suggest potential for people with SMI to be supported to become more active managers of their personal networks to support well-being regardless of current network type. The health and social care system does not currently deliver multiagency integrated solutions to support SMI and social recovery.FundingThe National Institute for Health Research Health Services and Delivery Research programme.

show abstract

Section: Social Capitalmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improving community health networks for people with severe mental illness: a case study investigation

Pinfold

Sweet

Porter³

et al. 2015

Health Services and Delivery Research

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…But others have sounded more cautionary notes regarding the social capital hypothesis (see especially, Pearce and Davey Smith 2003, and also Baum 1999, Edmondson 2003, Hawe and Sheill 2000, Henderson and Whiteford 2003, Macinko and Starfield 2001 Some studies compare social capital and health outcomes either across countries (McCulloch 2001) or geographic units within other countries, such as Russia (Kennedy, Kawachi and Brainerd 1998), Hungary (Skrabski et al 2003), and Canada (Veenstra 2002). 5 For example, across neighborhoods in Chicago, Lochner et al (2003) report that social capital is associated with lower overall mortality rates among whites (and to a lesser extent among blacks), but is unrelated to cancer mortality; also see Subramanian et al (2002 and2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

State Social Capital and Individual Health Status

Mellor

Milyo

2005

Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Recent studies have found that two state-level measures of social capital, average levels of civic participation and trust, are associated with improvements in individual health status. In this study we employ these measures, together with the Putnam (2000) index, to examine several key aspects of the relationship between state social capital and individual health. We find that for all three measures, the association with health status persists after carefully adjusting for household income, and that for two measures, mistrust and the Putnam index, the size of this association warrants further attention. Using the Putnam index, we find particular support for the hypothesis that social capital has a more pronounced salutary effect for the poor. Our findings generate both support for the social capital and health hypothesis and a number of implications for future research.

show abstract

“…1 For instance, the UK government has written the building of social capital into its mental health policy. The Department of Health has explicitly cited developing social capital as an important feature of mental health promotion, 2 and more recently the government's Social Exclusion Unit's action plan to improve mental health in England and Wales had advocated that authorities target access to volunteering, roles in the community, improving social networks, and general participation to improve mental health.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%