Chapter 10 Physical and Mental Health

Health Health – a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being. –Well-being of any population reflects the operation of society, including its level of technology and degree of social inequality –Global perspective: high-income nations vs. low-income nations

Health Care Systems Socialized medicine – a medical care system in which the government owns and operates most medical facilities and employs most physicians Direct-fee system – a medical system in which patients pay directly for the services of physicians and hospitals

Who Pays? Private Insurance Programs Health maintenance programs (HMO) – organizations that provide comprehensive medical care to subscribers for a fixed fee Government Insurance programs

The Cost Problem 1.The spread of private insurance 2.More doctors who specialize 3.More high technology 4.A lack of preventive care 5.An aging population 6.More lawsuits

The Coverage Problem 47 million people (16 % of the population) have no medical coverage at all. –About 68% of the U.S. population have private health insurance (87% through an employer, 13% bought policies on their own) –25% have coverage from an HMO –27% have some coverage from the government

Mental Health and Illness Mental disorder – a condition involving thinking, mood, or behavior that causes distress and reduces a person’s ability to function in everyday life. Psychotherapy – an approach to mental health in which patients talk with trained professionals to gain insight into the cause of their problems. Deinstitutionalization – the release of people from mental hospitals into local communities.