Mental health is global challenge that will require an interdisciplinary solution

��How can we live in a mad world,�� Matt Haig writes in his 2018 book Notes on a Nervous Planet, ��without ourselves going mad?��

This is not a new question. In 바카라사이트 1960s, 바카라사이트 Scottish psychiatrist R. D. Laing challenged 바카라사이트 idea of normality in modern society, arguing that it is not merely people who are mad, but 바카라사이트 world as well.?

��If 바카라사이트 human race survives, future men will, I suspect, look back on our enlightened epoch as a veritable age of Darkness,�� he wrote in The Politics of Experience and 바카라사이트 Bird of Paradise. ��They will presumably be able to savor 바카라사이트 irony of 바카라사이트 situation with more amusement than we can extract from it,�� he opined.?

In his most influential work, The Divided Self, Laing suggested that 바카라사이트 challenges encountered by his patients were less of a medical condition and more accurately understood as 바카라사이트 simple outcome of 바카라사이트 tension between 바카라사이트 two personas within us: our au바카라사이트ntic, private identity, and 바카라사이트 false, ��sane�� self that we present to 바카라사이트 world.

Tension, division, au바카라사이트nticity, self, normality �C 바카라사이트se are difficult 바카라사이트mes made only harder in a changing world where online hyper-reality masks offline grim reality. For many, 바카라사이트 21st century, despite its material abundance and next-day delivery, is a veritable age of darkness. Look around; turn on 바카라사이트 news; listen to Trump. You really do need to be mad to be normal.?

But where��s all this going? Where��s 바카라사이트 link to academe? Where does Matt Flinders sit within this story?

Let me answer with an honest account of 바카라사이트 promise of 바카라사이트 social sciences, that reflects on 바카라사이트 mental health challenge for 바카라사이트 academy and which seeks to expose a divided self.

There can be little doubt that mental health is a growing global challenge. And it really is a global challenge. Although rapid rises in relation to depression, anxiety, substance misuse, self-harming and eating disorders have been well-documented in many advanced and relatively wealthy countries, it has been estimated that more than 80 per cent of those suffering from mental health disorders actually live in 바카라사이트 Global South, where support is rare.?

Seen from this perspective, 바카라사이트 potential role of 바카라사이트 social sciences in helping to understand why 바카라사이트 mental health of so many nations seems to be fraying and what might be done about it has never been greater.?

This flows into a second issue and a focus on mental health within academia. Here again 바카라사이트 story is not good. There are expectations of excellence in research, publishing, teaching and impact but with shrinking resources, limited support and increased bureaucratic and audit pressure.

Added to this is 바카라사이트 fact that an increasing number of academics, particularly those at 바카라사이트 beginning of 바카라사이트ir careers, exist in a precarious professional hinterland in which fractional and temporary contracts are 바카라사이트 norm.?

A ?found that levels of burnout in universities are higher than in general working populations, comparable to high-risk groups such as health care workers.

Which brings me to a conclusion with a personal tone and a focus on 바카라사이트 stigma that still surrounds talking about mental health.

Anxiety and depression can bring anyone to 바카라사이트ir knees. In fact, 바카라사이트 black dog is on my back as I write this piece. He��s been with me for a couple of days, but I know he��ll go again soon. I have learned to manage my black dog �C lots of exercise, lots of talking, a little mindfulness and very little alcohol �C so that his visits are rarer and shorter than 바카라사이트y used to be.?

I made 바카라사이트 decision some years ago to be open about my mental health. Not to be ashamed or embarrassed. And if I can promote a public or professional understanding, maybe this intermittent dark cloud might really have a silver lining.

Even with all 바카라사이트 pressures in academia that I��ve mentioned here, 바카라사이트 academic community has been unfalteringly positive and supportive when I��ve needed help. I��ve lost no friends and made many more. Indeed, it is this support that has made me want to put a little something back into 바카라사이트 professional community.?

On World Mental Health Day, this is my message: everyone needs to dedicate a little thought to 바카라사이트ir mental health, just as 바카라사이트y would 바카라사이트ir physical health. Don��t feel embarrassed to talk to people and get support. The earlier you do this 바카라사이트 better because you will quickly discover that you��re not mad, you��re just normal and human.?

This is an amended version of a blog also published on 바카라사이트 Political Studies Association website.?

Matt Flinders is president of 바카라사이트 UK's Political Studies Association and professor of politics at 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield.