Extract from an opinion piece about mental health:
“I’d assume that if society were to adopt the idea that we should be more actively and deliberately respectful of all citizens and if as well we were to enable kids from school entry onward to develop their potential emotional intelligence and skills in relationships we’d have the majority of citizens feeling OK about themselves and not seething with the psychic pain of shame exclusion anger disrespect frustration and powerlessness (with the resulting danger we see now of personal de-control into violence under the influence of these various anaesthetising drugs including especially alcohol.
None of us is immune from behaviour that is self destructive. It’s easy to drink too much or to smoke knowing the effects to our health or to hang on in destructive relationships or eat too much or too little or sleep or exercise too much or too little. I see people all day every day punishing themselves without mercy and I often look into a face and wonder about the story that caused a person to be so harsh on themselves. I’m sure that no matter how this behaviour occurs and no matter whether legal or illegal drugs are used toward that end; that it is a communal problem that requires above all someone who can be alongside to listen and ask the right questions. I’m certain that dividing the world into goodies and baddies undermines the humanity of both the goodies and the baddies.”