Positive power
SOME of the most important messages about mental health are simple optimistic messages.
In my view that means mainstream popular media has a responsibility to communicate such messages to the public. It could only bolster general community wellbeing, resilience and resourcefulness.
One key message is that most of us who suffer depression will make a full recovery. This is especially important as depression is already the leading cause of disability worldwide.
Not only will sufferers generally return to their usual self, but will likely have learnt something valuable in the process.
Furthermore, most people who experience significant trauma will not go on to develop posttraumatic stress disorder. Many who do will recover spontaneously over time.
It helps to have a “growth mindset” where we recognise every challenge, however protracted, can be seen as a test and/or a lesson.
Such lessons might include the need to temper untoward demands, bolster our stress management techniques, set aside regular time to recharge our batteries, step back from challenging circumstances to help put them in better perspective, draw liberally on our social supports and temper perfectionism. Most periods of struggle will ultimately bolster our hardiness as we come through them.
These messages are very different from those promoted by drug companies, which profit from peddling a pessimistic outlook for such conditions as depression. For example, they perpetuate the oversold mantra that depression is a disease based on genetic fault leading to a biochemical imbalance that requires long-term medication.
This pessimistic explanation has proved to be a market boon by emphasising a supposedly permanent and pervasive cause for depression that requires an external fix, the company product. The vast majority of post-university medical training and research about depression is funded by drug companies, which seems a conflict of interest.
By contrast, depression can often be viewed as an experience of going through “the dark night of the soul” when facing temporarily overwhelming circumstances.
It often proves to be a stage of the hero’s journey, albeit a challenging one, in having to dig deep within ourselves to find ways of rising above seemingly insurmountable obstacles.
We can end up gaining renewed understanding of our resources and potential, often with a clarified life direction.
This archetypal process is the basic plot of almost all great literature and every major movie. Such stories are inspiring. Think of your own personal heroes — it is almost certain they went through such life experience.
Unfortunately, it is in drug companies’ interests to pathologise someone having dysphoric mood and feeling overwhelmed by life circumstances. This has led to 10 per cent of the Australian adult population taking antidepressant medication each day.
Don’t get me wrong, there is a potentially important place for antidepressant medication when people suffer severe or prolonged depression with prominent physical symptoms that have not responded to other interventions. But the current prescription of such medication seems excessive — it is too often considered the default option.
Even with medication, it is important those with depression find other ways of increasing activities that promote some semblance of pleasure and achievement, and develop their arousal reduction strategies to deal with anxiety.
Physical exercise remains important to all of us, with or without depression. Anything that boosts the core pillars of wellbeing — positive emotions, engagement in life roles, relationships, personal meaning and accomplishment — will promote better mental health.
I believe any means that mental health professionals can use to convey such optimistic messages to the community can give heart to those who are struggling and further bolster the wellbeing of those who are otherwise relatively well. This certainly includes spreading such messages through the popular media.
This is one of the main motivations behind attempts to create a second series of Destination Happiness, a national TV wellbeing show with strong Geelong links. Led by presenter, Angie Hilton, our team is also active on social media.