Community Psychology: Mental Health vs Social Action

Although Community Psychology and Public Health have many topics, theories, methods and values in common, they also differ greatly in certain aspects. In this assignment I will attempt to compare and contrast their approaches to social problems.

Community Psychology focuses on mental health issues while Public Health focuses on diseases and physical health. They both focus on prevention.

Instead of just addressing the problems, Community Psychology focuses on prevention of mental illnesses and behavioural issues both individually and as a community. It seeks to reduce the incidence of mental disorders of all types in the community, the duration of the disorders that do occur and the impairment which may result from these disorders (Seedat et al; 218). It also brings to light the inequities of society such as poverty, inadequate housing and lack of freedom of speech. The aim is to empower individuals and societies by involving community members in the processes and decisions in dealing with the issues. In Community Psychology, individuals may approach fellow members of the community for assistance since they are more trusted and more culturally sensitive than an outsider may be. The need for an expert is not always necessary and so it lends a sense of empowerment to the community and also serves as an incentive for them to better their lives. An example of this would be alcoholism. Alcoholism has been linked frequently with poverty (VAADA, 2003). It is also associated with the gaining and retaining employment and of acquiring qualifications or completing school. A common phenomenon a community may be facing, and one it may be able to treat through counseling, workshops and support groups. Individuals from the community, who are trusted and respected, may be trained to deal with specific issues. In this way alcoholism may be reduced and employment regained, reducing stress on families and in turn possibly reducing spousal battery and violence which is commonly...