Misconceptions about Mental Illness

There are many societal misconceptions of mental illness. A particularly extensive circulation of "myths" concerns depression, considering the prevalence of this illness and the considerable influence it has on the culture of this nation. From the everyday usage of terms such as "the blues" to the alternative medicinal "cures" such as St. John's wort for depressed moods to discussions about chemical imbalances to the countless references to the links between the increased stress levels of modern society and the havoc that is being wreaked on our emotional well-being, we encounter at least some aspect of depression in our daily lives.

Perhaps the greatest debate about depression (and mental illness in general) is the one concerning the role of psychiatry in treating these disorders. There is great concern about the vast prescriptions and usage of anti-depressants, or SSRIs. As we saw in class, the celebrity Tom Cruise even heatedly denounced the usage of such psychotropic medications, claiming that it is just a mask that people have learned to resort to without consulting the "real" issues.

But what are the "real" issues?

Sure, one could have residual negativity that has lingered after a series of fleeting and hurtful relationships or a learned, personally-crafted mindset of philosophical pessimism.

But also, one could have a genetic predisposition to depression or could be experiencing an imbalance of hormones after delivering a child.

There are myriad possible reasons intertwined and unseen by psychiatrists, therapists and even the individual herself. Who's to say that taking these drugs is the right choice for the person? Or, the wrong one?