In this week's reading, "I Would Always Rather be Abnormal Than Holistic: Nine Micro-Essays," Shana Bulhan Haydock talks about how having mental health "issues" should not be viewed as something that must be cured immediately; in other words, she explains how mental health "issues" should not have a bad connotation that most professions make it out to be.
I find it interesting how she explains that most of the time, our problems are seen as curable with just medicine-- a way to shut us up and take medication to "help" us. It reminded me of the lecture about mental health because I feel like the pharmaceutical industry is pretty controversial when it comes down to medicine regarding our mental state.
Another part of the essay I found interesting was the first page because it was something I could kind of relate to very much. My parents have the same attitude when it comes to mental health; and although some of their advice could be helpful, it's not very empathetic for someone who has "gone through the same issues" because it is also seen as something terrible that NEEDS to be cured. Aside from relating to this part, I also felt that most of the reason why mental health is so frowned upon is because of the Western belief that lean towards scientific evidence and holistic reasoning.
When someone is labeled by a professional, it is as if it leaves that person with a bad connotation for others to assume. I'm not creative enough to say this without sounding a bit corny, but why should we yearn to be fixed back to "normal" when these certain things that we deal with is what makes us?
Question: Do you think it is necessary to have medicine for these "issues"? Should there be an option to take the medication without making it seem like the patient should depend on it?
Photo: https://today.lbl.gov/2019/01/17/stigma-free-uc-hosts-jan-24-webinar-on-reducing-mental-health-stigma/
Reference:Haydock, S. B. fucked up. I would always rather be abnormal than holistic: Micro Essays. DSM: Asian American Edition.
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