The Political Context of Primary Prevention and Health Promotion

Abstract

Economic as well as humanitarian interests have moved the health and mental health fields away from a pathology/ treatment-based model focused on specialists curing illness to a model based on preventing disease and fostering directions for positive mental health, by emphasizing growth and development, mastery, and personal efficacy. However, as prevention and the promotion of mental health have become the direction for major interventions, they have come into conflict with deeply rooted and powerful vested interests. Most professionals in the field have been trained to treat client problems, and the established organizations tend to maintain the status quo. One need only mention the conflicts over the implementation of fluoridation in water to reduce tooth decay, the battle over installing seat belts in automobiles to reduce automobile injuries in crashes, and the fight over eliminating smoking to prevent many physical illnesses to illustrate the various political forces at work on any important issue. The theme of this entry is that the political context surrounds every substantive issue in primary prevention and health promotion, requiring that practitioners in these fields know both the specific content and the larger context in order to be effective.