Social determinants of health influence mental wellbeing by?

• A. Factors like income, education, housing influence exposure to stress and access to support/services
• B. They have no influence on mental wellbeing
• C. They only affect physical health
• D. They are determined by genetics

Answer: (A)

Social determinants shape the conditions in which people live, and those conditions strongly affect mental wellbeing. Income, education, and housing influence how much stress a person experiences and how easily they can access support and mental health services. When these determinants are favorable, stress is more manageable and support is more reachable, promoting better mental health. When they’re unfavourable, stress is higher and barriers to help are greater, increasing risk to mental wellbeing. That’s why this option best captures how these factors operate. The other ideas—having no influence, only affecting physical health, or being dictated by genetics—don’t reflect how social and environmental conditions shape mental health outcomes.