Controversies
The opinions below are our personal views and are intended to encourage discussion about public health. Any offence caused, whether direct or indirect, is merely a bonus
Mental health anyone?
The development of effective anti-depressant medications is one of the more useful achievements of the 20th century. It is good to know effective drugs exist when needed. If in doubt talk to your doctor.
At the same time psychological therapies like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) have shown success rates very similar to medication in fighting depression, and frequently superior in preventing relapse. In some studies the long term benefits of a limited number of CBT sessions are comparable to the benefits of ongoing medication.
| So psychological therapies are more expensive in the short term, but cost effective and frequently more successful in the long term; with no side effects! |
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In a better world governments would allow realistic resources for better mental health. Anyone suffering depression could benefit from psychological counselling first, and proceed to medication (or some combination of both) only if needed. Preventative education and coping skills training would also be available. Further, the unspoken relationship between mental illness and homelessness would be tackled with genuine energy and imagination. Not swept under the carpet as an inconvenience.
Every concerned person should visit their local member of parliament. Threaten to remove your clothes and dance naked until he/she agrees to become an advocate for better mental health!
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Note: This message was not brought to you by the pharmaceutical industry!
The great sea change myth
The Seachange idea is very Hip now days. Thanks Sigrid! Now we even have a ‘National Seachange Taskforce.’
Stress related illness, depression, and family breakdown are at record levels in modern societies. This occurs at a time when governments are encouraging us to work more and more. You don’t have to be a ‘lefty’ or a hippie to recognise working longer hours and ‘keeping up with the Jones’, while boosting incomes, has not delivered better mental health or quality of life for individuals and families.
Unfortunately the ‘seachange mindset’ is not the answer. This thinking suggests there are only two ways to live. You can serve the economy until you drop, or sell up and go bush. No shades of grey. Faced with these extremes most people take the safe option of staying in the rut!
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Start your own ‘secret seachange’.
Accept a sideways career move closer to home and save family time,leisure time and fuel costs. Send your kids to a less expensive school and get involved in their learning. Keep your old car to show the neighbours you don’t suffer penis envy. If you’re not the boss, leave work on time. Start a veggie patch. Take your holidays. These are not radical changes.
Send your ideas to the seditious ones at Life Psychology
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The Life-coaching profession?
Professionals such as doctors, engineers, lawyers, psychologists and dentists are regulated by government registration boards. Statutory authorities
protect the public by setting minimum qualifications, enforcing ethical codes and investigating complaints.
‘Life coaching’ is not a profession in this sense. There are no minimum qualifications and no restrictions on who can use the title ‘life-coach’. It is perfectly legal for your mother-in-law to begin calling herself a ‘life-coach’ tomorrow. She could even use the interesting title; ‘master practitioner’! (She may even be pretty good at it). Some people using these tittles may also be professionals, but life-coaching is not a regulated profession.
Does it matter?
Coaching can be enormously beneficial in assisting with goals and motivation. However, common disorders like depression, anxiety, and certain personality traits also cause of poor motivation and low self-confidence. This is completely outside the expertise of coaches who are not required to have mental health training. The depressed person blames him/herself excessively and will very likely feel worse when coaching proves unhelpful.
Secondly, a study by Dr Ben Dean (2005) followed participants who set the generic goals usually encouraged by life-coaches. These included more wealth, achievement and career advancement etc. At six months later, levels of happiness were not significantly increased. When measured scientifically, successful coaching and personal development are harder than they look.
Giving psychology away?
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During the 1990s some views published in the Australian psychological literature encouraged specialist (clinical) psychologists to position themselves as the exclusive providers/trainers of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. With increased evidence and scientific acceptance for CBT some argued that standards, as well as the ‘pre-eminence’ and incomes of specialist should be protected.
At the same time the pioneers of CBT advocated for their discoveries to be taught free of charge in schools across the United States and elsewhere. Lead by Professor M. Seligman and others from Pennsylvania University; trained facilitators using therapy manuals taught CBT coping skills to large numbers of young people and adolescents. Follow up comparisons showed successful prevention of future depression; compared to control groups.
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The World Health Organisation predicts depression will be the second biggest cause of disability by 2020. The mental health profession can respond by squabbling over ‘pre-eminence’ (of little interest to the public or registration boards) or show more generosity and leadership toward community education, preventative research, health policy formation, informative websites, and pro-bono supervision.
Yes Virginia, we should give psychology away. The profession will look after itself.
Final Thought
Your contributions to these issues will be published as time resources permit. Please email us your thoughts.
Another Final thought
Good luck with your new career as a ‘Master-Life Coach’
Update your CV today!
Have your mother-in-law do the same.
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