Call to revolution in the prevention of emotional disorders.

Abstract

This article argues that it is futile to try and treat the many serious mental disturbances now confronting society with individual psychotherapy. Only by preventing the occurrence of mental disturbance can headway be made in dealing with this source of human suffering. Prevention means confronting and ameliorating the major cause of mental disturbance: stress. The sources of stress include poverty, rampant sexism, being born unwanted, and other forms of social injustice. This article demands that those in the mental health field examine their moral and scientific beliefs and begin to take steps to change the existing unfair political and economic practices.