Is Mental Health a Moral or Political Issue When Shaped by Structural Oppression?
Mental health is a crucial aspect of human wellbeing that affects an individual's overall quality of life. It includes both physical and emotional wellbeing and involves maintaining a positive attitude towards oneself, others, and the world around them.
Its definition can vary depending on cultural, social, economic, political, and historical contexts, making it challenging to define a universal standard for mental health. In this article, I will discuss the moral and political aspects of mental health when shaped by structural oppression.
Mental health has been influenced significantly by societal norms and values throughout history.
During the Middle Ages, people believed that mental illnesses were caused by demonic possession or witchcraft and treated accordingly. With time, psychiatry emerged as a science to study mental health conditions, but it was largely based on assumptions about white, upper-class males. As a result, many women, minorities, and marginalized individuals were excluded from these studies, leading to inadequate treatment and care. Today, there are significant disparities in access to mental health services, with minority groups disproportionately affected. This disparity is due to systemic racism, classism, ableism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, and other forms of discrimination.
Structural oppression refers to institutional policies and practices that create barriers and biases against certain groups of people. These structures can be found in education, employment, housing, healthcare, policing, justice systems, and governance. They perpetuate power imbalances and privilege some groups over others, resulting in unequal opportunities and outcomes. Structural oppression affects an individual's physical and mental wellbeing, including their ability to cope with stressors such as poverty, violence, trauma, and discrimination. Mental health issues can develop as a response to these circumstances, which may be unavoidable for those who live under oppressive conditions.
The relationship between structural oppression and mental health highlights a moral dilemma. On the one hand, society should provide adequate resources and support to improve mental health and prevent its consequences.
This approach would require addressing structural inequality, which may challenge existing power dynamics and privilege. On the other hand, ignoring the link between mental health and structural oppression risks further stigmatizing and criminalizing marginalized individuals. Therefore, it becomes a political issue, requiring collective action to tackle both mental health and structural oppression simultaneously.
To address this problem, we must recognize that mental health is shaped by social contexts beyond individual factors like genetics or behavior. Structural oppression contributes significantly to poor mental health outcomes and needs to be addressed at all levels - personal, interpersonal, community, and societal.
Anti-racist policies can promote equity and reduce disparities in access to mental health services. Similarly, affirmative care practices can create safe spaces for minority groups to seek help without fear of being judged or rejected. Community-based initiatives can also empower marginalized individuals to advocate for themselves and demand better treatment and representation. These strategies are essential in promoting mental wellbeing and challenging systemic inequalities.
Mental health cannot be separated from broader socioeconomic and political realities. It requires an intersectional approach that considers the complex interactions between individual factors and structural oppressions. We need to acknowledge the moral imperative of providing adequate mental health resources while challenging structural oppression's root causes. This holistic view of mental health can lead to more inclusive and effective treatments, creating a more just society for everyone.
Is mental health a moral or political issue when shaped by structural oppression?
Mental health is an essential aspect of human wellbeing that goes beyond personal feelings and experiences. It encompasses various physical, social, and environmental factors that can influence one's thoughts, behaviors, and moods. Thus, it is a complex phenomenon that requires comprehensive approaches to address its causes and consequences.