'The needs of strangers': understanding social determinants of mental illness

This article explores the social determinants of mental illness in order to stimulate\ndebate and advocate for improved services, and greater understanding and acceptance\nfor people with serious mental illness in their community. Systemic and broader social\nmechanisms that perpetuate stigma and inequity are briefly examined. Research\nfindings from a study of the culture of smoking for psychiatric populations are used to\ndemonstrate the complexity of these mechanisms and to show how they impact on the\nsocial determinants of mental illness for people with serious mental illness. From this\ndiscussion, broad system and policy options are offered.