I posted about the NYTs article The Americanization of Mental Illness not long ago. Fascinating read BTW. The article was adapted from Ethan Watters book, Crazy Like Us: The Globalization of the American Psyche. The book is now out in stores and is on my spring break reading list. If you check it out before then, let us know your thoughts.
Watters was on the Daily Show last night to discuss his book. Check out the video below for some entertaining discussion on the issues. In my opinion, Watters is right on (and Stewart). Our narrow mental health perspective and care [AKA pharmaceutical profit plan] are already damaging our own citizens. Why spread the destruction to others?
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Ethan Watters | ||||
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Seriously. The success rate for treating “mental disorders” in the U.S. is depressing in and of itself. It’s too bad countries are buying into the pharma marketing.
There has been a tendancy to medicate without addressing the real problem for decades in the US. Just one more fundamental problem with for-profit healthcare.
I found the article very interesting, and quite eye-opening.
On reflection, I think that this is the result of a market driven tendency to self-diagnose. How many other countries advertise prescription drugs on TV? It’s like advertising candy to young children, but instead of asking mom, adults ask their doctor. Its entirely possible that the diagnostic criteria for many conditions is too loose, and so anyone who doesnt fit some kind of standard must be medicated and labelled.