Modernity, mental illness and the crisis of meaning

Abstract

Western civilization has, over its relatively recent past, undergone dramatic, unparalleled changes. The historical period in which these changes have occurred is commonly referred to as 'modernity', and although modernity has had profound repercussions on all aspects of people's lives, what has received less attention in the nursing literature is how modernity has influenced, and continues to influence, the mental health of modern men and women. In an attempt to address this, the following paper, drawing on the work of Szasz, Nietzsche and Frankl, seeks to present an accessible introduction to one of the most salient features of modernity; namely, the erosion of those traditions that gave life a meaning or a purpose, and that provided people with ready answers to the problem of how they ought to live. The paper will then introduce some of the possible consequences of this on the mental health of modern men and women, as well as providing preliminary suggestions as to how mental health nursing might respond. In doing so, the paper also seeks to stimulate further discussion and research into how modernity has influenced, and continues to influence, the mental health of modern men and women, and how psychiatric and mental health nursing might respond.

Student nurses' experience working with mentally challenged individuals in South Africa

“…A person's ‘search for meaning’ is the most important motivation in his or her life (White 2004, Solomon 2005). Frankl (as cited in Roberts 2007, p. 280) supports this by saying: ‘There is nothing in the world . .…”

Understanding the value of the arts in the education of mental health professionals: Georg Lukács, Samuel Beckett and the aesthetic category of specific particularity

“…To understand how Lukács' notion of specific particularity can assist in enabling an appreciation of the manner in which art can be employed as an educational resource that can contribute to the development of the emotional capabilities of mental health professionals, it is important to highlight the centrality of therapeutic, hope‐inspiring and growth‐fostering relationships within mental health care (see e.g. Roberts 2007, 2008, Clarkson 2008, Haugh & Paul 2008, Green 2010). In particular, insofar as the everyday practice of mental health professionals can be understood as being concerned, to a significant degree, with attending to the emotional needs of others, and insofar as the mental health professional's emotional capabilities are a central feature of the ability to establish the growth‐fostering relationships within which this attention to the emotional needs of others occurs, then the development of these capabilities – such as the ability to achieve emotional resonance with, or empathic understanding of, those receiving mental health care – is of paramount importance (Breggin 2006).…”

Teoretiske og ideologiske innflytelser på utviklingen av psykiatrisk sykepleie etter 1960 — en litteraturgjennomgang

“…Dette gjelder artikler som omhandler utdanningen i psykiatrisk sykepleie (5-7) og artikler som omtaler det filosofiske grunnlaget for praksis (8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13). Det sentrale filosofiske innholdet dreier seg om at mennesket utformer sin eksistens gjennom de valg det gjør, at den menneskelige eksistens ikke kan beskrives eller forklares med objektive begreper og at mennesket er fritt og at frihet medfører ansvar.…”