Mental Health: Are We Empowering or Disempowering?
“We become what we think about all day long.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
As a psychologist, I have seen the evolution of mental health awarenessfirsthand. While this shift has certainly led to some positive strides — such as reducing stigma around mental disorders and encouraging more people to seek help — I cannot help but become increasingly concerned that the very awareness we have cultivated may be leading us down a problematic path. We have gone from a society that ignored mental health to one that seems to obsess over it. The risk? The fine line between understanding ourselves and overidentifying with labels that may do more harm than good.
I have noticed a pervasive trend emerging, where people are seeking diagnostic labels for everyday psychological experiences, rather than delving into a deeper understanding of their emotional and existential states. A shift I am deeply concerned about. It is as if there is an urgent need to categorise distress and discomfort under the umbrella of something diagnosable, a need that stems not from a desire for healing, but from the avoidance of discomfort.
The truth is, many individuals are unwilling to “do the work” required to understand their feelings or improve their emotional resilience. Instead, they seek immediate relief, whether that is through medication, self-help quick fixes, or relying on external sources such as influencers or AI assistants like ChatGPT.
Unfortunately, the associated cost for external answers is a decline in self-trust, and with it, an increasing difficulty in tolerating the uncertainty that comes with facing life’s challenges. People want clarity, a diagnostic label, rather than sitting with the ambiguity of existential angst. This is a shift I believe is impacting our overall well-being.
Now, let us take a moment to question something I believe we all should ask: Is the rise in mental health disorders truly a reflection of an actual increase in prevalence, or are we simply overemphasising the existence of mental disorders? Take ADHD as an example. We have seen a sharp rise in ADHD diagnoses, but I question whether this surge is truly disorder-driven. Is it not possible that what we call “ADHD symptoms” are just normal responses to the increasingly abnormal demands of modern life?
Our society is shifting at a staggering pace, family structures and traditions are breaking down, our work environments are becoming increasingly disconnected, and the rapid rise of AI is stirring unprecedented uncertainty about the future. On top of that, we are constantly inundated with information, making it harder to process our thoughts and emotions. We are overworking, overconsuming, and expecting our brains to keep pace without giving them the space to rest and recalibrate. In response, we often seek labels or quick fixes, such as medications or trauma interventions, but in doing so, we fail to equip ourselves with the tools necessary to truly cope with the profound changes around us.
What concerns me most is that medications, including antidepressants, often come with consequences we are not yet fully aware of. A recent studypointed out that certain antidepressants with an anticholinergic effect may be linked to an increased risk of dementia. This is a fact that should cause us all to pause and reflect. And then, consider the fact that in the US, 7 million children between the ages of 3 and 17 years are diagnosed with ADHD. That is just one country! Should we not ask ourselves whether we are truly diagnosing a disorder, or are we perhaps misinterpreting the natural human response to the world around us?
To be clear, I am not dismissing the value of our diagnostic systems, medications, or therapeutic interventions. I recognise the importance of seeking help when suffering and the immense relief that can come from proper treatment. Medication can be life-saving, and therapeutic interventions can certainly make a difference. However, I do worry that by continuously chasing diagnostic labels for every form of emotional distress, we risk making things worse instead of better.
When individuals receive a diagnosis, it often becomes an anchor in their lives — sometimes one that holds them back. A person may start viewing everything through the lens of their diagnosis. They may come to see themselves as a “Generalised Anxiety Disorder sufferer” or someone unable to achieve relationship satisfaction due to ADHD. They may begin to live in accordance with the very label they were given. I have seen this firsthand in therapy, and it deeply concerns me.
Why do we so eagerly seek to outsource our sense of self to a diagnostic label? Perhaps it is because we are desperate for something tangible, something that makes sense of the chaos we feel inside. But the truth is, a label does not heal you, it only describes what is going on. It is not a solution; it is a starting point. And in my view, it is important that we do not lose sight of our agency, our power to evolve, and our capacity to grow beyond labels.
This is where I believe artificial intelligence (AI) can play a pivotal role in the future of healthcare, including mental health. Imagine a world where AI is integrated into the diagnostic process, not to replace the human element, but to augment it. In the future, I foresee individuals having more control and ownership over their physical and mental health than ever before. AI can offer insights, guide self-reflection, and perhaps even help us better understand our psychological makeup without the need for quick fixes. But for this to work, it must be done ethically, with the intent to empower, not disempower. Perhaps one day, incorporating AI into the diagnostic process will not just be a possibility, but an ethical requirement for all health professionals.
Moving forward, I want us to challenge how we approach mental health. Let us focus less on labels and more on understanding ourselves. Instead of hastily categorising emotions as disorders, let us take the time to explore their roots and find lasting ways to build resilience. Our world is changing, but we have the ability to adapt and grow with it, if only we are willing to do the work.
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