Global Health, Human Rights, and Neoliberalism: The Need for Structural Frameworks When Addressing Mental Health Disparities

In this paper we argue that the field of psychology—and the psy-disciplines generally— need to embrace an interdisciplinary approach if they are to be relevant and contribute to global social justice initiatives. We focus on two such initiatives: The Global Mental Health movement and calls for increasing access to mental health services for immigrants. We suggest that a stronger focus on the upstream causes of ill-health, a deeper appreciation for the ways in which neoliberalism deflects attention away from these upstream determinants, and a greater engagement with the field of human rights and other disciplines will lead to more substantive gains in population mental health.