PSYC 3390 Chapter 18: Chapter 18.docx

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 3390
• Professor: Mary Manson- Hennig

Document Summary

In the past the concepts primary, secondary & tertiary, prevention were widely used in public health efforts to describe general strategies of prevention. Prevention efforts are not classified into three subcategories: 1. Universal interventions: efforts that are aimed at influencing the general population: 2. Selective interventions: efforts that are aimed at a specific subgroup of the population considered at risk for developing mental health problems: 3. Indicated interventions: efforts that are directed to high-risk individuals who are identified as having minimal but detectable symptoms of mental disorder but who do not meet criteria for clinical diagnosis. Altering conditions that can cause or contribute to mental disorders (risk factors: 2. Establishing conditions that foster positive mental health (protective factors) Epidemiological studies help find information about incidence and distribution of mental illnesses and maladaptive behaviours. They can then be used to suggest prevention efforts/program that may be most appropriate.