Promotion

issue is the promotion of the mental health of children who are experiencing major
changes in their lives from the impact of conflict and violence; the loss of parents
through relationship breakdown or illnesses such as HIV/AIDS; or the effect of natural
disasters. While children in all countries experience changes the life situations of children
in some parts of the world pose very considerable challenges to the development
of mental health.
Determinants and influences of child mental health
Chapter 2 considered determinants of mental health and these can be categorized in
various ways (Lalonde 1974; Bronfenbrenner 1979; Dahlgren and Whitehead 1991).
The ecological model in Figure 4.1 will be used as a framework for the discussion. It
shows that factors are multiple and interacting.
Environmental factors: socio-economic, cultural, natural and built
The evidence base on the links between specific factors and health differs although
certain factors have been cited as particularly powerful in their impact on mental
health as explained in Chapter 2 (Albee and Ryan Finn 1993).
Socio-economic and cultural factors
Economic influences
Regardless of whether definitions are used of absolute or relative poverty, children
experiencing poverty are more likely to have risk factors for mental ill health or to
Figure 4.1 Model of influences on health
INFANCY AND CHILDHOOD 69