What is the biopsychosocial model and why is it relevant to AOS1?

• A. It treats mental health as solely biological, ignoring psychological and social factors.
• B. It explains mental health as the result of biological, psychological and social factors interacting; it helps identify risks and protective factors.
• C. It claims mental health cannot be influenced by environment.
• D. It focuses only on cognitive processes in mental health.

Answer: (B)

Mental health results from the interaction of biological, psychological, and social factors. This means genes and brain function, thoughts and coping patterns, and relationships and culture all influence wellbeing together, not in isolation. In AOS1, this view is helpful because it provides a broad framework for understanding mental health, illness, resilience, and how different life contexts can affect outcomes. It also guides us to identify risks and protective factors across all three domains—biological predispositions, psychological processes, and social environments—so assessments and interventions can be more comprehensive. The other statements describe a single factor or deny how environment shapes mental health, which misses the interconnected reality the biopsychosocial model emphasizes.