Understanding Emotional and Social Health Needs: A Personal Perspective

Hi,
I answer only a fraction of questions. My answers come directly from myself or my clients’ experiences, not from textbooks.

Hi,
You ask this question as if everyone is homogeneous and they are not. In reality, individual experiences and backgrounds heavily influence one's emotional and social health needs. This is an interesting perspective from a social worker, but it's also worth considering the foundational theories that guide such discussions, such as Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs: A Framework for Understanding Needs

Maslow would give you a list of needs every human needs to survive, and you can look there. These needs form a pyramid, with physiological needs at the bottom, followed by safety, love/belonging, esteem, and finally, self-actualization. While these are universal in a broad sense, individual interpretations and experiences can vary widely.

Personal and Social Influences on Emotional and Social Health

However, the way you are brought up, a classic argument in developmental psychology, has a strong effect on what the emotional and social health needs are. This perspective highlights the importance of individual experiences and the role of nurture over nature. According to this view:

Those Who Were Coddled as Babies: Individuals who were consistently and deeply cared for as children often internalize the notion that they need a certain level of attention and support from others to thrive emotionally and socially. They may struggle with independence and find it challenging to operate outside of this support system. High Self-Esteem Implants: Similarly, if parents or caregivers constantly praised and affirmed a child, this person may develop a sense of extreme self-worth and the expectation that they should receive significant attention and validation from others. Without these conditions being met, they might experience emotional distress. Independence and Solitude: Conversely, those who were often alone and not as frequently around parents or siblings might have internalized the ability to be content and self-reliant. This doesn’t necessarily mean they have a complete understanding of how to be alone and be okay, but it can certainly play a role in their comfort levels.

The examples above illustrate how individua experiences shape personal and social health needs and highlight the importance of individual differences in this context.

Social Health Needs in Times of Trauma

When someone is suffering from an emotional or social traumatic event, it is indeed relatives, close friends, and other support systems who provide comfort and emotional support. However, in such scenarios, professional help from a psychologist or therapist can be equally if not more important. The role of a mental health professional is to guide individuals through the recovery process and provide the necessary tools and techniques to cope with the trauma.

Access to Social Care from the Health System

From the perspective of the health system, social care is crucial for maintaining good mental and emotional health. This includes access to mental health services and counseling. Unfortunately, there are significant barriers to accessing this care, particularly in some regions.

In many cases, due to:

Economic Shortages: Limited funding can lead to a shortage of qualified mental health professionals. Lack of Psychologists: There may be a lack of trained mental health specialists in certain areas. Insurance Company Policies: Insurance companies may limit the availability of long-term mental health care or cover only certain types of therapy, further complicating the process.

This highlights the importance of advocating for better access to mental health services and ensuring that resources are allocated effectively.

In conclusion, emotional and social health needs are deeply influenced by individual experiences and environments. While Maslow's framework provides a broad understanding, personal and social factors play a critical role in shaping these needs. Providing support and resources, including access to professional help, is essential for maintaining good mental and emotional health.