Who Shares The Blame for the Mental Health Epidemic? - Will Self [2014] | Intelligence Squared

In this clip from our 2014 session ‘Psychiatrists and the pharma industry are to blame for the current ‘epidemic’ of mental disorders’, writer Will Self and Dr Declan Doogan take the stage at Intelligence Squared to provide their alternate views on whether or not psychologists and the pharmaceuticals industry are to blame for the modern day crisis of mental health that seems to be an epidemic on both the young and old. Which side do you agree with, and why? Let us know in the comment section below!
See the full session here: • Psychiatrists and the ...
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[@Aculturalsavagefromaustralia]

Since I stoped watching stupid news, stopped unnecessary consumption and pay more attention to the beautiful nature around me, I started to look forward to everyday of my life.

[@frankandstern8803]

Sure. One still has to deal with being accountable and dealing with people. Time with nature is awesome and I'm a big fan but it doesn't always take care of that. Living for good moods isn't necessarily dealing with anything.

[@Aculturalsavagefromaustralia]

@@frankandstern8803 It does. It changes people’s perspectives. For example, I realise that some of my past concerns are nothing comparing to the fragility of life in nature. My concerns really do not matter that much. The world goes on anyway. My increased physical exercises enhanced my physical strength and my being able to focus on the world rather than on myself or on comparing myself to others. The result is a stronger resilience that comes from inside. You do not care if other people are somehow better than you. You care about new species and new life appear in your eyes everyday. It tricks one’s brain to learn to relax and learn to be less obsessive.

[@dingtonia]

I don’t think “blaming” is the answer. I rode the Prozac wave, but slowly it dawned that I needed to confront my life and fix what could myself. I also decided that life doesn’t have a purpose, we need to give it purpose. I’m still slightly depressive, but that’s just the way it is. Anyone who is aware in this world, will be sad and in despair some of the time.

[@AnxMa]

Just wanna add from my xp: to anyone who's ever been a victim of hate / violence because of their appearance, gender, orientation, race : DO NOT ever let a hateful notion 'there's something wrong with me' sink in. Trust me, it's a recipe for self hatred and compulsive anxieties later on. When we suffer and we need a break, it's only natural to think: maybe if I wasn't 'different', if I was 'normal' I would be accepted. No, haters will always find something else to prey upon. I've always had kinda androgynous look, which was a fuel for bullies when I was growing up. I embraced it, used it to my advantage in my acting / modeling career, I was almost the face of Leon in these new Resident Evil games :)

[@sinsinsinat5377]

I usually dont hate myself but hate the other person for why is he/she trying to be a d!ck when I did nothing wrong.

[@alangiaconelli2919]

Just like “ Buyer beware “. “ Taker Beware”

[@TzaraDuchamp]

I don’t think Dr Declan Doogan used the nocebo effect correctly here. It's still a placebo if you believe the negative side effects are a sign your medication is working and beneficial for your depression and this has anti-depressant effects. Also, it could just as well be an effective medicine but working via a currently unknown mechanism.

[@christiansmith-of7dt]

You are on my own

[@edwardferry8247]

Evolution in 4 dimensions, Genetic, Epigenetic, Behavioral, and Symbolic. SSRIs have to operate in that environment, they are not a singular panacea, no pharmaceutical intervention alone can be. If Self has no personal experience of depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and medical intervention then it’s not helpful to position yourself in any debate on the subject.

[@pippipster6767]

The interesting thing to me is why the human brain is so very prone to anxiety, depression and mental illness in general.
It is completely inconsistent with the Darwinian approach to evolution which is that adaption will take place to increase success of the particular organism. And that the organism will strive to preserve itself and survive.
Yet mental illness can lead a person to self destruction in an otherwise completely healthy body.
The human brain really doesn’t seem up to the job at all. A little bit like teeth in fact, just not robust enough for the task at hand.