Relationship Between Globalization And Mental Health

Globalisation has challenges the issue in mental health population. There are several factors associated with globalisation that have mental health consequences (Bhavsar and Bhurga, 2008). Globalization could be defined as a process in which the traditional boundaries of culture are changing and societies are gradually and increasingly diminish (Okasha, 2005; Bhurga and Mastrogianni, 2004). Whereas mental health could simply mean the level of psychological well-being and the absence of mental illness. The prevalence of mental illness is closely related to social, economic and cultural conditions (Okasha, 2005). This process is changing the nature of human interaction in many spheres such economic, political, social, cultural, environmental

Academic literature commonly subdivides the relationship between globalisation and mental health into Migration and Culture, Identity, Economy and Financial, Inequality and Mental health policy. Globalization also has effects on the provision of health and social care to those with mental health problems, whether or not these have been generated by globalisation (Manning and Patel, 2008). Hence, it worthwhile to look at the impact of globalisation on improving treatment and practices for mental health

The process has rapidly altered the societies through urbanisation, acculturation, modernisation, and social and cultural change (Bhurga and Mastrogianni, 2004). The quality of life in many countries is affected by economic disintegration, unequal distribution of collective wealth, social disruption, political repression, migration and even war (Bhurga and Mastrogianni, 2004)). There is a widening gap between societies which value knowledge and technology and others which are unable to follow progress and self-actualization (Okasha, 2005). In all countries, the development of technology has led to increased information on a range of health care services, resulting in increased