Biomedical And Psychosocial Model Essay

The biomedical explanation of mental illness is widely promoted in society to reduce stigma by promoting the biological causes of mental diseases which can be treated with pharmaceutical interventions, however increasing research has found that this explanation of mental illness is not only failing, but stigma is in fact worsening. The1950’s saw the introduction of a number of pharmaceutical treatments that seemed to reduce the effects of mental illness. The foundations of the biomedical parigdam today relies on researchers advances in neurobiology combined with pharmaceutical treatments and their ability to address the physiological aspects of mental illness, whilst ignoring the psychosocial explanations of mental illness. However in ignoring the psychosocial model are we in fact ignoring an important element of reducing stigma. Given the increase in the number of pharmaceutical treatments being prescribed, the growing number of people being diagnosed with mental illness and the increasing research demonstrating an increase in social stigma at all levels, it is becoming more important to improve communication and education to ensure improved outcomes for those suffering mental illness and
It will define the key terms biomedical, stigma and psychosocial. Explain the difference between the biomedical model and psychosocial model and their effectiveness, the effect increasing public awareness of the biogenetic causes have on both the publics perception of these illness in addition to the individuals understanding of their own illness and finally the relationship between public perceptions of mental illness and social stigma of those with these illnesses. This essay contends that the biomedical model alone is not a sufficient explanation to reduce stigma, rather combining both the biomedical and psychosocial methods along with treatment information is an effective means to reduce stigmatizing attitudes towards mental