The poison in the cure: Neoliberalism and contemporary movements in mental health

Abstract

Neoliberalism reaches beyond economic policy and material conditions and reformulates the subject and psychological life and therefore is best understood as an attitude toward science, knowledge making, and subjectivity. In a neoliberal climate, markets give us truth and individuals are encouraged to be self-concerned agents rather than members of a polis. Thus, at the very moment that neoliberal policies transfer responsibility to individuals, there is a simultaneous increase in surveillance in order to reinstall certain patterns of human behavior. Mental health research and practice risk becoming commodities dedicated to enforcing this logic. In this article, we explore medical neoliberalism in some of its recent manifestations: global mental health interventions, routine depression screening, and the monitoring of social media to assess mental health. We also consider the ways in which popular reforms in the mental health field are founded on neoliberal assumptions and may be abetting these ideological aims.

How neoliberalism, ageism and stigma drive the lack of policy for older adults' mental health

“…Although it is not the focus of this paper, it is important to note the intersection of the social determinants of health and older adults' mental health. The social determinants of income, physical environments, social supports, access to health services, gender, culture and race are all critical concepts to consider alongside this discussion (Butler, 1980; Cosgrove & Karter, 2018). These determinants form the basis for how many older adults interact with the healthcare system (Butler, 1980).…”

“…Additionally, this way of governing was encouraged by citizens who, in the past, were worried about the government having control over citizens' access to health care and how treatment plans were executed (Henderson, 2005). However, because of the shift towards neoliberalism, citizens' well‐being has become a commodity rather than a right (Cosgrove & Karter, 2018; Henderson, 2005). Care for older adults' mental health translates to expensive, private organizations which force those who are struggling, or their caregivers, to find the means to pay for adequate services or suffer without professional help (Cosgrove & Karter, 2018).…”

“…However, because of the shift towards neoliberalism, citizens' well‐being has become a commodity rather than a right (Cosgrove & Karter, 2018; Henderson, 2005). Care for older adults' mental health translates to expensive, private organizations which force those who are struggling, or their caregivers, to find the means to pay for adequate services or suffer without professional help (Cosgrove & Karter, 2018). As people age, many of them are on fixed incomes through pensions or social security.…”

“…Numerous socio‐economic factors influence this health system gap, including predominant neoliberalist ideology (Henderson, 2005). This ideology favours private sector competition, which prioritizes profit over citizens' well‐being (Cosgrove & Karter, 2018; Henderson, 2005). Furthermore, the neoliberal market perpetuates the stigma which surrounds older adults' mental health concerns when governments fail to prioritize such topics (Stewart, Jameson, & Curtin, 2015).…”

Narrative Medicine Meets Planetary Health: Mindsets Matter in the Anthropocene

“…Neoliberalism obviously privileges the 'bio' within the biopsychosocial paradigm. However, its narratives also obfuscate the biological consequences of the otherwise meaningful connections between the social and the psychological [129]. For example, neoliberalism 'tells' individuals that if they are in debt, it is their fault.…”