SZASZ (2011) THE MYTH OF MENTAL ILLNESS: 50 YEARS LATER

Suggested that mental illnesses were simply behaviours that made people feel uncomfortable. So are though by society to need treating. However, this is to make other people feel better about the behaviour rather than help the individual.

1960's- 

• Health care for mental health consisted of mental hospitals and private professional.
• Mental patients are treated no better than prisoners.
• Patients have few rights – e.g. held against their will with no chance to appeal that decision.
• Mental illness is not the same as physical illness.
• Mental illness doesn’t exist, so it is foolish to look for causes or cures.

Reconsiderations in 2010-

• All mental health care is provided by the NHS and the aim is to prevent danger to patients and others
• A false belief that is apparent in research is that mental illness can be diagnosed accurately and treated successfully
• Mental illness is seen as being a disorder of the brain, despite there being no scientific evidence that mental illness is caused solely by the brain
• Mental disorders are labels given to people with undesirable behaviours
• Doctors don’t see people as inherently bad, but if they perform negative behaviours, it is a result of their mental illness
• Consent for treating mental illness does not happen
• Medical treatments should not be used to treat mental illness. People need to be helped to overcome obstacles and treated with respect

Ethics-

• Szasz did not directly collect data from participants so in that sense you could say its free from ethical issues. However, his beliefs about mental illness are highly controversial and socially sensitive. For those who suffer with a mental illness it could be distressing.

Nature v's nurture-

• The theory that mental illness is a myth disregards any hereditary explanation. Szasz argues that mental illness was defined due to social constructs and therefore has an environmental explanation.

Freewill vs determinism:

• Szasz’ views would appear deterministic, as he is assuming that mental illness is a product of the environment and people are defined due to irrational views of psychiatrists. However, he also does empower mental health service users and sees involuntary confinement as wrong. This encourages are more freewill approach to service users.