Ethics and Mental Health
The concept of mental health is one that had dominated our
society in recent years. Since the beginning of time, physical health has been recognized
as essential to wellbeing. But in the last half-century concern for mental
health has become an equal focus for both individuals and society. Much that
was once recognized as aberrant behavior is now considered simply the
consequential fruit of mental disease. Unlike physical illness, mental illness
is often quite subjective in its manifestation. In fact, some have suggested
that psychology and psychotherapy are the only causes of the very diseases they
profess to cure. The rise of these areas of study seems to have brought about a
spontaneous flood of mental health cases.
In the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report
of 1999, “mental health” as defined by the Surgeon General "refers
to the successful performance of mental function, resulting in productive
activities, fulfilling relationships with other people, and the ability to
adapt to change and cope with adversity.” If we look carefully at this
definition we see that the criteria by which mental health is adjudicated has
everything to do with the ethics and values of the society in which we live.
Notice that the definition rests on “productive” activity,
“fulfilling” relationships, “adapting” to change, and “coping” with adversity. In
each case, the way mental health is to be understood and demonstrated depends
on how society defines these key modifiers. What is “productive” activity? Who
decides what makes a relationship “fulfilling?” What does proper “adaptation”
to change look like, and what is considered adequate “coping” with adversity.
Who gets to decide?
The answer to these questions is simply that there are intrinsic
moral and ethical standards and guidelines that are part of the fabric of
ordered society. They may differ in degree in various societies, but all have
an “understood” standard by which to measure behavior. And, more to the point
here, it is adherence to those values that constitutes mental health.
So, what happens in a society when the “understood” morals
and ethical standards begin to unravel? What happens when those in the society
stop believing that there are, and ought to be, absolute values that must be
mutually agreed upon? In short, what happens when truth is no longer valued in
public discourse, honesty is no longer practiced in the marketplace, and love
is no longer understood as a commitment rather than a lustful diversion? The
answer must be that the society devolves into a mess of mental and spiritual
conflicts, confusion, and ultimately, widespread depravity.
If I’m right, a primary defense against an erosion of our
mental health must be the promotion and defense of basic societal values. Ethics
are, apparently, the guardrails that keep our society’s cars from running off
the road and into the ditch of dysfunction. While the psychiatric community
prescribes various medicines to help those diagnosed as mentally diseased,
perhaps just as important might be a prescription to be painstakingly honest,
both with self and others.
Perhaps as we are inoculating our kids against various
diseases we should be paying more attention to imparting to them a sense of
moral value, respect for authority, chastity, purity, honesty, and good ole
right and wrong. If our mental health depends on a strong ethic then the best
thing we can do for ourselves, our children, and our country is buck the trend
of personal pragmatism and return to a radical understanding that the basic
moral values are not up for grabs.
The same Creator who has endowed us with inalienable
rights also poured into us a moral conscience designed to reflect his
standards. When, by his grace, we are brought into alignment with him, we find
more than mental health. We find peace in the midst of chaos, purpose in the
midst of confusion, and hope both in this world and the next. Now that’s what I
call great mental health.
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