Mental disorders are among the most prevalent sources of disease burden worldwide, with increasing recognition leading to significant scientific advancements and public interest. Public Mental Health provides a comprehensive introduction and reference for understanding these issues from a public health perspective. Authored by experts from the Department of Mental Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, this volume delves into unique methods and concepts from various disciplines, including population-based surveys in a life course framework.

The book covers prevention and control strategies through intervention trials aimed at promoting mental health in currently healthy individuals and managing those with existing disorders. It discusses the importance of good mental health as both a protective factor against disorder onset and a valuable outcome in its own right. The complexity of the brain and its relationship to social life necessitates new concepts, methods, and syntheses for epidemiology and public health.

Public Mental Health offers an in-depth look at methodologies for studying mental disorders in populations, providing estimates of burden, cultural differences, natural history, and disparities among subgroups. It explores genetic risk factors, life span stresses, and crises/disasters as sources of risk. Additionally, the volume includes reviews of the structure and functioning of mental health service systems in the United States and globally, along with a comprehensive review of population-based strategies to lower risk.

A concluding chapter outlines the future evolution of public mental health. This book is an essential resource for researchers, students, and practitioners involved in public health approaches to mental and behavioral disorders.