Educating professional counselors about the social determinants of mental health

Abstract

The social determinants of health (access to quality health care; economic stability; high-impact educational opportunities; community safety and support; and connected social networks) play a central role in individual health and wellness. These determinants and others also impact individual mental health and wellness. A shift is required in the preparation of counselors toward training students and current practitioners to assess, diagnose, and treat mental health issues through a social determinants’ lens. While the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs and counseling ethics require that counseling training focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, there is no mention of the social determinants in any guidelines. We present a rationale for including the social determinants as a core component of counselor preparation and provide examples to facilitate the incorporation of the social determinants into counselor education curriculum and continuing education efforts.