The problem of the "recovery" conversation in mental health

By the year 2030, mental health problems will be the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in many countries, with depression becoming the leading cause of the global burden of disease. Given this scary statistic, it is important that we use language appropriately and sensitively to educate the public about this important cause.

Language can be a powerful tool for raising public awareness of debilitating diseases, such as mental health issues, but it can also be used, intentionally or unintentionally, to further marginalize people with mental health problems. In the 1950s, for example, people with mental illness were generally described as "weak," "bad," or "crazy," which often resulted in ostracization and institutionalization, as well as public fear. .

"Much remains to be done to understand how our attitudes and language can affect the quality of life of people with mental health problems"

However, since then, great efforts have been made to find treatments for various mental illnesses, such as depression and anxiety. This is partly due to the growing awareness of the prevalence and incidence of mental illness worldwide.

Today, in contrast to the stigma surrounding mental health issues in the 1950s, characters with mental health problems are often featured in a variety of movies and TV shows. television. Celebrities also tell their personal stories to advance the mental health debate. In addition, companies, including our own, do more to protect the mental health of their employees, considering that it is integral to the well-being of their employees. This illustrates the dawn of a new era of openness. However, much remains to be done to understand how our attitudes and language can affect the quality of life of people with mental health issues.

The "road to recovery"

A commonly used word in mental health is "recovery," which means returning to a "normal" state of health, mind, or strength. This is often seen as the ultimate goal for people with mental health problems, but is it realistic or impossible?

Health care professionals and members of the mental health community are worried about the use of these terms to describe the "recovery path" for people with mental illness because it can define goals that are inaccessible to themselves, their caregivers, and the public.

"At least half of those who" recover "from their first episode of depression will live one or more episodes of their lives"

As more research and information emerges, it becomes increasingly important to focus on the "road to recovery" rather than "recovery" itself. This distinction is important because people with mental illness, such as depression, often experience more than one episode in their lifetime. They will also have to go through a sometimes lengthy process of trial and error with antidepressants. American Psychiatric Association [4]for example, have found that at least half of those who "recover" from their first episode of depression will experience one or more episodes in their lifetime.

Relapse does not mean failure

Mental illness is not simple. It is difficult to diagnose and treat in a single doctor's appointment, it is generally dirty, fluid and does not easily fit into the binary categories, which complicates the diagnosis and treatment. Often, two mental illnesses are present together. For example, depression and anxiety often go together and occur together in primary health care settings. [2].

More importantly, simply "treating" mental illness can increase the shame and stigma felt by those who "fall off the car", which can relegate them further to the margins. The desire to seek help also diminishes when people with mental illness feel misunderstood or ashamed, with some saying they feel a "burden" or "failure" as a result of their relapse.

"By educating the public, people with mental illness and caregivers on the" road to recovery, "it is becoming easier for everyone involved in the process to help manage the disease and better cope with episodes of potentially recurrent mental illness "

Narration widely told in the media and in academic circles usually describes a person who has "recovered" from a punctual episode of depression at some point in the past. This can contribute to increased feelings of shame and stigma in people with mental health problems because they are not visible on these forums, which may cause them to internalize their thoughts and feel "defective" when They relapse. . More importantly, it can prevent them from asking for help.

By educating the public, people with mental illness and caregivers in the recovery process, in which relapses are anticipated and considered part of the treatment process ("recovery"), it becomes easier for everyone involved in the process. the process of managing the disease and better coping with potentially recurrent episodes of mental illness.

Chrissie Hodge, a patient with OCD, explains how this idea helped her manage her own mental health. She says, "The best way to prevent relapses early is to understand that relapses are possible and probable. This can eliminate this unwanted fear whether it can happen or not. Understanding the odds and planning accordingly places you ahead of the game. "

A holistic approach to treatment

Rather than focusing on the "recovery" of a mental illness, it is more productive to focus on managing and maintaining it. This promotes the idea that mental illnesses are often the result of complex interactions between biological, psychological and social (biopsychosocial) spheres rather than a point disease, such as strep throat, which can easily be treated with antibiotic treatment. .

Instead, treating mental illness requires a holistic approach that takes into account how each sphere interacts and, in turn, affects people with mental illness. It also involves understanding how the areas should be treated in order to help people with mental health issues so that they can better manage their condition.

For example, if a depressed person is continually involved in precarious work and lives in unstable, low-income housing, trying different anti-depressants will not "cure" them if their work and housing situation do not improve. All factors must be taken into account to determine how much they can hinder a person's ability to progress to "mental well-being", and to determine the types of support that might be needed outside of the medications (such as support, social benefits, etc.).

The benefit of understanding mental disorders as a fluid and ever-changing "pathway to recovery" takes into account the ambiguity in diagnoses and medications for mental illness. This can make a real difference in the lives of survivors and their loved ones, as it provides more holistic care for people in need, improving their quality of life.