Activity - Medical and social models of health
Purpose
To consider differing perspectives on health and their influence on how health
and wellbeing issues for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are
interpreted.
Materials required
Flipchart and marker pens
Method
Ask the group to identify the key features of the ‘medical model’ and record
down one side of flipchart paper. Once the discussion is exhausted, the trainer
can add to the list to ensure key points are included.
Now ask for the key features of the ‘Social’ model, recording the key points
down the opposite side of the flipchart. Again, the trainer can assist the group in
completing the exercise as above.
The trainer then summarises the two models.
Now ask the group how, from the ‘medical’ model, the health concerns relating
to LGBT people would be interpreted. This can be recorded or simply discussed,
depending on the time allotted to the exercise.
Compare and contrast the two models with participants.
Finally, ask the group to consider how LGBT health might be interpreted using a
social model perspective using the same approach as above.
Addressing LGBT health inequalities an educational resource 2007
2
Alternative method
The training group can be divided into 2-3 smaller groups who are tasked with
the questions. The small groups then feed back to a plenary discussion.
The advantage of this method is that it allows more discussion and debate
among participants.
Discussion points
Lead discussion on the ‘medical model’ and its significance in the pathologising
of the lives and experiences of LGBT people.
Discuss the social model and its significance in understanding the lives and
experiences of LGBT people.
Compare and contrast the two models in relation to health inequalities and
access to health services as experienced by LGBT people.
Learning outcomes: by the end of this session, participants will:
Understand the distinctions between medical and social models of health
Recognise that these models offer different perspectives on the root causes of
health inequalities as experienced by LGBT people
Gain an appreciation of health as a global concept and a shared societal
responsibility
Also see
Models of health and LGBT health inequalities
Modernising the Social Model in MH
Addressing LGBT health inequalities an educational resource 2007
3