Madman Across the Water
Adam Schwartzman ·
September 7, 2011 at 1:00am
Reuters is running a story that says nearly 40% of European citizens suffer from mental illness, causing an economic burden in the hundreds of billions of Euros.
Does that statistic frighten anyone else?
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Comments:
Re: Madman Across the Water
If you subscribe to the Michael Savage theory of 'Liberalism as a mental disorder', then that number sounds right. Maybe even a little bit low for our friends across the pond.
Dec '10
Re: Madman Across the Water
If I get the sniffles, I am phisically sick. If I have some short-term anxiety, depression or insomnea, I am mentally sick, but in either case it is not cause for concern.
Depression and anxiety CAN be serious mental health issues, but a chest cold is not lung cancer.
Jun '10
Re: Madman Across the Water
The truest thing Charlie Manson ever said: "You gotta remember, I was crazy when crazy meant somethin'."
Re: Madman Across the Water
I think it could have something to do with the lack of religion and spirituality in the lives of Europeans.
Re: Madman Across the Water
First, what Johnny said. Civilization-wide ennui tends to have some unpleasant side effects. Second, I suspect this has to do with the expanding definition of mental illness more and more to encompass any less-than-ideal mental state, and the concomitant belief that any prolonged bout of unhappiness or anxiety is a "medical" problem in need of external assistance. While I have no doubt that many of these 40 percent of Europeans could profit from medication, therapy—or spiritual advice—I'm equally sure that a lot of their problems could be solved with a good old pull-yourself-together attitude.