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Asked by anon-216534 to Robert, Olly, Nicola, Jasmin, Dennis, Caroline on 15 Jun 2019.
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Robert Dempsey answered on 15 Jun 2019:
In terms of mental health – I would like to ban the use of certain words when we talk about mental health as there can be a lot of stigmatising words out there. For example, I really dislike the term ‘abnormal psychology’ when used to describe mental health experiences – I think it’s incredibly harmful to label people as ‘abnormal’. The term also suggests that these experiences (e.g. having ups/downs in mood, hearing voices) aren’t normal – a lot of people think that they heard someone speak or call their name when actually no-one was there, so why is hearing voices when you have diagnosed psychotic symptoms then seen to be ‘abnormal’? It’s ‘normal’ to have periods of good and poor physical health, so why doesn’t this apply to our mental health? I also dislike and actively avoid the term ‘commit suicide’ as this suggests that someone has done an illegal or immoral act, when actually someone may have died because of the pain they were in. The words we use to describe mental health experiences can have a really significant effect on those living with these experiences and their friends/family members and may make some people feel stigmatised because of these experiences.
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Caroline Brett answered on 15 Jun 2019:
Inequality! This can be a huge factor in both physical and mental health difficulties. Not having enough money to live on, or feeling hard done by, can cause so much stress for people, which can lead to all sorts of problems for their mental health, as well as issues such as addiction, violence, crime…. I’d like to think that if we were all a bit more equal in terms of opportunities, money, and status everyone would be a lot healthier and happier.
A bit idealistic, perhaps, but there it is -
Dennis Relojo-Howell answered on 15 Jun 2019: last edited 15 Jun 2019 8:31 pm
Poverty. I grew up in a slum in the Philippines. Check out this article from BBC where my story was featured (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-30720662) – look for the 6th fridge.
We did not have electricity or running water until I was 20. We did not had a toilet until I was 12. I did not experience how it is to sleep on a bed until I was 16. Here’s a picture of where I grew up:
Poverty damages someone’s life chances. If you grew up here in the UK (which is one of the world’s richest countries), you have more chance of being a scientist.
Take advantage of that privilege, so you can be the next scientist to ban poverty. 🙂
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Nicola Johnstone answered on 16 Jun 2019:
Money. I think we’d all be much happier if we found a way to live without it.
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Jasmin Moon answered on 17 Jun 2019:
I agree with Dennis on this one, I would ban poverty too.
Research has shown that the more debt someone has, the more likely they are to develop mental health problems. Issues such as lack of education, and unemployment as well as social isolation are also to blame, which of course are all more likely if someone has a low income and lives in a deprived area.
I think if we could all live in a fair society where everyone has enough money to get by we’d all be much healthier and happier. -
Oliver Clabburn answered on 17 Jun 2019:
I’m with Nicola! Imagine if we could ban money?! There wouldn’t be any poverty anymore as people wouldn’t be richer than others! Health and social care would also be accessible to all which would be fantastic!
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