Are We Talking Too Much About Mental Health? (opens in new tab)

There's probably several sides to this.

On the one hand, we're talking about experiences that we previously would have kept to ourselves, in a way that is probably healthy.

On the other hand, we tend to medicalize life experiences in a way that may not be helpful.

If you for example view every unpleasant experience you have as psychological trauma that is expected to leave an indelible scar on your soul, that's an expectation that may do more harm than good. Especially combined with the notion that people exist that never have any of these negative experiences ever, that walk through life unblemished, living it as it should have been had that one fateful event never happened.

You can absolutely get messed up by traumatic events and this is a real thing, but if we set the expectation that this is always the case, we may plant the suggestion that has even those that would have otherwise walked it off marked for life.

I've also noticed a trend where people tend to sort of frame themselves in terms of their diagnoses (like ADD and Autism/Asperger), almost like a Jungian archetype, as though these diagnoses are causes of behaviors and not descriptions of them.

Although most of these problems likely stem from pop-culture psychology. It's probably something that comes from media portrayals of mental illness much more than it does from the medical professions.

Quite the opposite. Any conversation remotely related to mental health == "see a therapist". No need to frame things as mental health topic, most of the time you don't need someone who is a expert in psychoanalysis to help people, you just need to listen to people, show some empathy and be generous with your time. Of course, it is easier said than done.

I've had to many conversations where trying to establish some depth and personal connection results in being shunted to "see a therapist/medical professional/lawyer". As if those are plenty, accessible and affordable.

Mental health is everything.

It's the reason why there are billionaires and popstars who are depressed/suicidal and stage IV cancer patients who wake up every day with positive thoughts and gratitude.

I also believe it's Nature's way to stop (or otherwise provide some sort turnover) narcissists from taking over the world.

There is a close correlation between bad mental health and time spent thinking about yourself/ego, or thinking at all, that's why mindfullness and meditation work, and also religion/prayer.

Who is the "WE"?

only if you have been diagnosed with Logorrhea.

Or you have been prescribed Amphetamines.

Or taken illegal drugs like Crack cocaine.