UPDATE 11
26 October 2024
Dear Supporter
Welcome to Save Mental Health’s Update 11. In this edition we will report on the excellent Battle of Ideas Festival, introduce you to Lucy Beney’s latest article ‘Broken Brains or Broken Hearts?’, and tell you about James Esses new venture Just Therapy. Also, don’t forget to take a look at our book recommendations.
The Battle of Ideas Festival
If you didn’t go to this year’s Festival, make sure you sign up for next year’s on 18th and 19th October 2025. The motto for the 2024 ‘Battle’ was ‘Conversations for the public, with the public, in public’. The venue, Church House, was full to capacity with free thinkers who flocked to the many and varied events where they exchanged ideas without fear of being silenced for having the ‘wrong’ opinions.
There were several sessions focusing on mental health this year. In a discussion about over-diagnosis, we learned that a government intervention in the early 2000’s, designed to improve emotional literacy in schools, resulted in children becoming familiar with psychiatric and psychological terminology. Subsequent mental health awareness campaigns, designed to destigmatise mental illness, had then contributed to the pathologising of everyday experiences, such as disappointment or sadness.
Amy Gallagher, in a session on the Wellbeing industry, expressed concern that wellbeing initiatives were encouraging an inward focus on the self rather than an outward focus on others and their needs. This emerged as a theme in other sessions, both on mental health and wider discussions about society. Many speakers at the ‘Battle’ talked about the lack of meaning and purpose in people’s lives and how this may account for some of the current problems in society. Concerns about ‘safetyism’ and avoidance of risk, feelings, and failure, were also raised. Panellists and audience alike agreed that young people may benefit from talking more to trusted family members and friends and less to psychologists and other ‘experts’. An outward focus and connection with ‘real’ people in the ‘real world’ may provide a greater sense of purpose and meaning.
There was also discussion about the chronic under-funding of mental health services in the NHS and the inability of Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services to manage an upsurge in referrals. While mental health awareness campaigns were leading to increasing numbers of people being diagnosed with mental health disorders (actual or perceived), those with severe and enduring mental health problems were not receiving adequate care. In the case of Valdo Calocane, this had led to tragic results.
Dr Carole Sherwood was one of the speakers at Letters on Liberty: Escaping the Straitjacket of Mental Health responding to Dr Ken McLaughlin’s pamphlet published by the Academy of Ideas. Here is Carole Sherwood’s initial response.
These debates, as well as many others on a broad range of topics, will soon be available to watch on the Academy of Ideas YouTube channel.
Broken Brains or Broken Heart?
In this long-form essay, Lucy Beney asks whether the increasing numbers of children diagnosed with disabilities or mental health disorders might simply be ‘suffering from childhood’. In an essay that reflects concerns raised at the Battle of Ideas, Lucy talks about the need for secure attachments and loving consistent care in childhood to ensure healthy development. She asks whether it is always the case that there is something ‘wrong’ with the child. Could there, instead, be something wrong with what adults are providing (or perhaps not providing)? Do we need to ‘follow the money’ to find out more about the profitable industry that’s benefiting from this increase in diagnoses?
Our thanks to Lucy for yet another insightful and informative essay.
Just Therapy
James Esses is setting up an association of mental health practitioners, called Just Therapy. This initiative is predominantly about building a register of principled therapists for clients to access. It also represents the beginnings of a community of therapists sticking their head above the parapet and supporting one another. If you are a therapist and would like to join Just Therapy, or find out more, please contact James Esses direct: mail@jamesesses.com
RECOMMENDATIONS
What Mental Illness Really Is…(and what it isn’t)
Dr Lucy Foulkes, who has raised concerns about mental health awareness campaigns, published a book in 2022 that has only recently come to our attention. Dr Foulkes investigates what is known about mental illness and what is not. She asks how we distinguish between the ‘normal’ challenges of modern life and actual illness, and whether society is actually experiencing a mental health crisis. Recommended for any of our supporters who are concerned about the current surge in reported mental health problems and the effects this is having on society.
Hounded: Women, Harms and the Gender Wars
Poet and essayist Jenny Lindsay recently published a book about her experiences of cancellation at the hands of gender identity activists. Jenny’s book not only documents her own experiences but also those of other women hounded for their gender critical views. She reveals the psychological, social, economic and democratic consequences of holding ‘heretical’ opinions. Jenny also talks of the determination and resilience required to defend sex-based language and rights.