The Concept of Mental Health

Abstract

It would perhaps be good to begin by briefly presenting the various ways in which mental health is defined, in order to ascertain whether and to what extent the phenomena so widespread today, such as increase in drug addiction, violence in big cities, serious instability of the family, loss of the meaning of sexuality, etc., are necessary consequences of postmodern culture, or are only the consequences of the way in which a sick society lives out its existence. The so-called post-modern culture stands alien to the inner lives of persons, and sets its goal in the faith that technology will ultimately solve all our anxieties and problems, and that life must become a permanent source of pleasure. An argument in favor of the former, that is, in favor of the hypothesis that ours is a society of fragile mental health, could be the manifest increase of conditions leading to depression and stress, such as the high level of efficiency required by the daily tasks, the merciless competition of professional life, the loneliness in which one must grow in the midst of the multitude. All of this has been documented by outstanding researchers and, furthermore, can be observed by anyone.

This text was translated from the original in Spanish by Paulina Taboada.