Final answer:
The sociocultural model uses idioms of distress and cultural attributions to explain the causes of disorders, varying across cultures. Mental illnesses can also be perceived differently, as in Thailand where schizophrenia is not stigmatized, or in Japan where psychological treatments are stigmatized. Cultural syndromes like susto or anorexia also illustrate the cultural underpinnings of mental health disorders.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sociocultural model of mental health disorders suggests that disorders can arise from sociocultural influences and contexts. Various cultures have different idioms of distress and causal attributions. For instance, spirit possession in Haitian Vodou may be a causal attribution for someone wandering the streets aimlessly. In contrast, in the United States, behaviors like sneezing or blowing one's nose might be attributed to personal neglect. Cultural concepts of distress (CCD), recognized in the DSM-5, are vital in understanding how different societies express and deal with mental illness.
Moreover, different cultures have various ways of responding to mental illness. The United States typically uses clinical therapy and pharmaceuticals, whereas in Thailand, conditions such as schizophrenia and gender dysphoria may be considered gifts and not stigmatized. Conversely, Japan has a stigmatized view on psychological treatment, despite an increase in pharmaceutical interventions for mental illnesses. Cultural syndromes like susto in Latino societies or anorexia nervosa in Western cultures exemplify how mental health disorders can be seen as products of cultural influences.
Ultimately, sociologists study the cultural meaning of illness, the social construction of the illness experience, and the social construction of medical knowledge to better understand the multifaceted phenomenon of mental health within the context of different societies and cultures.