Blog
British Medical Journal – Mental illness is not a state of mind
- November 11, 2016
- Category: Of interest from media
In a Personal View recently published in the British Medical Journal Martha Balinska aims to differentiate between “existential hardship and overt mental illness“:
Someone with major depressive disorder or psychosis is not going to get better simply by meditating or going for a brisk walk. The problem may be semantics. Speaking of mental illness rather than disease is part of the reason for confusing sadness (a normal reaction to negative stressors) with depression (a pathological state).”
Balinska stresses the importance of recognising the disease rather than generalising ‘mental illness’ and how this is fundamental to reducing stigma which disrepute’s the seriousness of mental ill health and those who experience it:
I feel that many people who are truly mentally ill endure not only their symptoms and associated stigma but also the patronising attitudes of those who believe they should just ‘get on with their lives.'”
Visit the British Medical Journal website to read the piece in full (click here).