Explain how the sociocultural model of health has influenced the development and implementation of health promotion strategies targeting youth mental health in Australia.
In your answer, address at least TWO key determinants that influence health within this model. (5 marks)
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*Language highlighting the cause-effect relationship is bolded in the answer below.
Answers could include two of the following factors:
- The sociocultural model recognises that youth mental health is influenced by broader social, cultural, environmental and socioeconomic factors beyond individual control, which leads to more comprehensive health approaches.
Social factors
- The sociocultural model recognises that youth mental health is influenced by social factors beyond an individual’s control.
- This has caused health promotion strategies to address peer relationships and bullying through school-based programs like Headspace, showing how social environments directly impact mental wellbeing.
- As a result, these programs create safer school environments which reduces anxiety and depression rates.
Cultural factors
- Cultural factors are addressed in youth mental health promotion through culturally responsive services.
- These programs acknowledge how different cultural backgrounds affect help-seeking behaviours and mental health stigma.
- The cause-effect relationship is evident: culturally appropriate services increase engagement from diverse youth populations, and consequently improve treatment outcomes.
Environmental factors
- Environmental influences like social media pressure and academic stress are targeted through initiatives creating supportive school and online environments.
- This relationship shows how physical and digital spaces directly affect youth mental health outcomes. In this way, environmental modifications produce measurable wellbeing improvements.
Socioeconomic factors
- Socioeconomic factors are addressed through programs targeting disadvantaged youth.
- These initiatives recognise the relationship between socioeconomic status and mental health by providing free or subsidised services, which enables equal access to support.
- This occurs because financial barriers prevent help-seeking, and therefore free services remove this obstacle.
Summary
- In conclusion, the sociocultural approach has resulted in strategies that actively involve young people in planning and implementation, thereby making youth health promotion more relevant and effective.
- This demonstrates why holistic models generate better outcomes than individual-focused approaches.
Show Worked Solution
*Language highlighting the cause-effect relationship is bolded in the answer below.
Answers could include two of the following factors:
- The sociocultural model recognises that youth mental health is influenced by broader social, cultural, environmental and socioeconomic factors beyond individual control, which leads to more comprehensive health approaches.
Social factors
- The sociocultural model recognises that youth mental health is influenced by social factors beyond an individual’s control.
- This has caused health promotion strategies to address peer relationships and bullying through school-based programs like Headspace, showing how social environments directly impact mental wellbeing.
- As a result, these programs create safer school environments which reduces anxiety and depression rates.
Cultural factors
- Cultural factors are addressed in youth mental health promotion through culturally responsive services.
- These programs acknowledge how different cultural backgrounds affect help-seeking behaviours and mental health stigma.
- The cause-effect relationship is evident: culturally appropriate services increase engagement from diverse youth populations, and consequently improve treatment outcomes.
Environmental factors
- Environmental influences like social media pressure and academic stress are targeted through initiatives creating supportive school and online environments.
- This relationship shows how physical and digital spaces directly affect youth mental health outcomes. In this way, environmental modifications produce measurable wellbeing improvements.
Socioeconomic factors
- Socioeconomic factors are addressed through programs targeting disadvantaged youth.
- These initiatives recognise the relationship between socioeconomic status and mental health by providing free or subsidised services, which enables equal access to support.
- This occurs because financial barriers prevent help-seeking, and therefore free services remove this obstacle.
Summary
- In conclusion, the sociocultural approach has resulted in strategies that actively involve young people in planning and implementation, thereby making youth health promotion more relevant and effective.
- This demonstrates why holistic models generate better outcomes than individual-focused approaches.