In 2004, the discipline of sociology celebrated the 100th anniversary of the founding of the American Sociological Association. In 2005, the Section on Medical Sociology celebrated 50 years since the formation of the Committee on Medical Sociology within the ASA. And, in 2003, the Section on the Sociology of Mental Health celebrated ten years since its founding within the American branch of the discipline. This brief accounting marks the American-based or- nizational landmarks central to concerns about how social factors shape the mental health problems individuals face as well as the individual and system responses that follow. This history also lays a trail of how the focus on mental health and illness has narrowed from a general concern of the discipline to a more intense, substantively-focused community of scholars targeting a common set of specific theoretical and empirical questions. While mental health and illness figured prominently in the writings of classical sociologists, contem- rary sociologists often view research on mental health as peripheral to the "e;real work"e; of the discipline. The sentiment, real or perceived, is that the sociology of mental health, along with its sister, medical sociology, may be in danger of both losing its prominence in the discipline and losing its connection to the ma- stream core of sociological knowledge (Pescosolido & Kronenfeld, 1995).

Sociologists often view research on mental health as peripheral to the real work of the discipline. This volume contains essays that reassert the importance of mental health research in sociology. Experts in the field articulate the contributions that mental health research has made, and can make, in resolving key theoretical and empirical debates. The contributions provide answers to critical questions regarding the social origins of--and social responses to--mental illness.

Part I. Reflections Through The Sociological Looking Glass.- Through the Looking Glass: The Fortunes of the Sociology of Mental Health.- Sociology, Psychiatry, and the Production of Knowledge about Mental Health and Its Treatment.- The Changing Role(s) of Sociology (and Psychology) in the National Institute of Mental Health Intramural Research Program.- Part II. Sociological Theory and Mental Health.- Classical Sociological Theory, Evolutionary Psychology, and Mental Health.- Contemporary Social Theory and the Sociological Study of Mental Health.- Part III. The Social Origins of Mental Health and Mental Illness.- Class Relations, Economic Inequality and Mental Health: Why Social Class Matters to the Sociology of Mental Health.- Work and the Political Economy of Stress: Recontextualizing the Study of Mental Health/Illness in Sociology.- Race and Mental Health: Past Debates, New Opportunities.- Karen D. Lincoln.- Life Course Perspectives on Social Factors and Mental Illness.- Transition to Adulthood, Mental Health, and Inequality.- Contributions of the Sociology of Mental Health for Understanding the Social Antecedents, Social Regulation, and Social Distribution of Emotion.- Social Psychology and Stress Research.- Part IV. Social Responses to Mental Illness.- Stigma and the Sociological Enterprise.- Social Integration: A Conceptual Overview and Two Case Studies.- Sociological Traditions in the Study of Mental Health Services Utilization.- An Organizational Analysis of Mental Health Care.- Recognizing a Role for Structure and Agency: Integrating Sociological Perspectives into the Study of Recovery from Severe Mental Illness.- Part V. Mental Health, Social Mirror: Looking Forward, Reflecting Back.- Mainstream Sociology and Sociological Specialties: Toward Understanding the Gap and Its Consequences

In 2004, the discipline of sociology celebrated the 100th anniversary of the founding of the American Sociological Association. In 2005, the Section on Medical Sociology celebrated 50 years since the formation of the Committee on Medical Sociology within the ASA. And, in 2003, the Section on the Sociology of Mental Health celebrated ten years since its founding within the American branch of the discipline. This brief accounting marks the American-based or- nizational landmarks central to concerns about how social factors shape the mental health problems individuals face as well as the individual and system responses that follow. This history also lays a trail of how the focus on mental health and illness has narrowed from a general concern of the discipline to a more intense, substantively-focused community of scholars targeting a common set of specific theoretical and empirical questions. While mental health and illness figured prominently in the writings of classical sociologists, contem- rary sociologists often view research on mental health as peripheral to the âreal workâ of the discipline. The sentiment, real or perceived, is that the sociology of mental health, along with its sister, medical sociology, may be in danger of both losing its prominence in the discipline and losing its connection to the ma- stream core of sociological knowledge (Pescosolido & Kronenfeld, 1995).