d by medical action. But medical interventions are designed to remedy only medical problems, and thus it is logically absurd, Szasz says, to expect that they will help solve problems whose very existence have been defined and established on non-medical grounds (Szasz 17). The expression “mental illness” is a metaphor that we have come to mistake as a fact, and it is for the most part not a useful social metaphor. Szasz claims that the idea of mental illness functions to obscure certain difficulties that are presently inherent (not that they can’t be modified, he says) in the social intercourse of humans; the idea of “illness” is in fact a disguise, a mask. According to Szasz, instead of calling attention to conflicting human needs, aspirations and values, the concept of mental illness provides an amoral and impersonal “thing”-an illness-as an explanation for problems in living. The only question asked is “What’s wrong with the individual?” (namely, what’s the diagnosis) instead of the deeper, more fundamental question, “What’s wrong with society and this individual’s role in it?” Individual relief is the goal, rather than any attempt at societal change. This relief is given in the form of a “quick fix”, usually medication which may (but certainly not always) provide symptomatic relief, helping to control -not cure- the problem, toning down or eliminating the more acute symptoms of the “disease” (Awake 7).” This way of treatment is not entirely bad; I’ll admit that medical treatment that may offer symptomatic relief is better than no treatment at all. But this intervention is just that; an intervention. It is not a “cure” for mental “illness.” The correct intervention would be not to medicalize mental problems, as we have done, but to address the social and normative causes of...
