In my view, while the intention behind mental health programs is to provide support, they can inadvertently contribute to the rise in mental health issues by pathologizing normal emotional experiences. Labels like "anxiety" or "trauma" often become self-fulfilling prophecies, reinforcing feelings of helplessness instead of resilience. To address this, we should encourage a more action-oriented approach to mental health, where difficulties are seen as challenges to overcome rather than conditions to endure. This can be achieved by promoting coping skills, personal responsibility, and a mindset that normalizes discomfort as part of growth, rather than framing it as something to fix. Social media also needs stricter regulation to avoid amplifying harmful narratives.
Thank you for your comment. I completely agree with all of it. The social media piece is huge. I’m interested to see how things progress with the new legislation down in Australia.
In my view, while the intention behind mental health programs is to provide support, they can inadvertently contribute to the rise in mental health issues by pathologizing normal emotional experiences. Labels like "anxiety" or "trauma" often become self-fulfilling prophecies, reinforcing feelings of helplessness instead of resilience. To address this, we should encourage a more action-oriented approach to mental health, where difficulties are seen as challenges to overcome rather than conditions to endure. This can be achieved by promoting coping skills, personal responsibility, and a mindset that normalizes discomfort as part of growth, rather than framing it as something to fix. Social media also needs stricter regulation to avoid amplifying harmful narratives.
Thank you for your comment. I completely agree with all of it. The social media piece is huge. I’m interested to see how things progress with the new legislation down in Australia.