Social determinants of mental health: Implications for measurement, research, and evaluation

Abstract

In this article, we seek to broaden perspectives on program evaluation in the mental health domain. We argue that the social determinants of mental health (SDMH) framework can serve as a theory, within the context of theory‐driven evaluation, to guide evaluation practice in counseling and mental health. We posit that applying an SDMH framework enables evaluators to conduct more holistic, systems‐focused, and useful evaluations of mental health programs. The SDMH framework facilitates this by (1) serving as an empirically based framework to guide discussions about program design and improvement, (2) helping evaluators identify the most critical constructs to measure, and (3) connecting evaluators to previously validated instruments that measure those constructs. Additionally, through use of the SDMH framework, evaluators gain access to a literature base that helps build understanding of how to interpret evaluation findings. In contrast to traditional, goal‐oriented evaluation, such a theory‐driven approach has multiple advantages.