Toward an Outward Action Approach to Mental Health

I have spent the bulk of my professional life as a behavioral science researcher, educator, writer, and consultant. However, I actually started my career in psychology working in an outpatient mental health program. During this time, I witnessed firsthand the debilitating effects of severe psychiatric conditions, such as schizophrenia, on our clients' lives. Even those experiencing disorders that a growing number of Americans report having, such as depression, were dealing with a severe form of the illness that very few Americans will thankfully have to face - one so debilitating that it is difficult to accomplish basic daily living tasks. Our goal was to help our clients live independently, which required a treatment team of psychiatrists, therapists, case managers, and other support staff. Even so, many of them struggled to function in society. Only a minority were able to gain and maintain employment. Some ended up needing to live in group homes where they could receive more supervision and assistance. Among those who were able to live on their own, it was common for them to spend brief periods of time hospitalized due to a mental health crisis. This experience provided me with a lasting appreciation for the vital importance of mental health to overall flourishing.

At that time, nearly 25 years ago, there was certainly a growing movement aimed at destigmatizing mental illness, improving access to mental health services, and encouraging people to open up more about and seek help for their psychological struggles. However, I believe there was still a general appreciation for the distinction between what was thought of as serious mental illness, which only affected a small percentage of people, and other forms of psychological distress, which were considered a normal part of the human condition.

Fast forward to today, and the way our culture thinks and talks about mental health has changed dramatically. The language of mental illness now permeates many aspects of our lives, from media to everyday conversations. Clinical terminology is frequently used to describe emotional states that were once considered to be a normal, albeit unpleasant, part of life. Many people with no professional expertise are diagnosing themselves, family members, romantic partners and ex-partners, friends, and coworkers with conditions such as depression, anxiety, and ADHD. Mental health misinformation is increasingly being spread online, leading to greater confusion about the difference between normal distress and mental health disorders. Simultaneously, as these changes have occurred, the percentage of people, especially young people, who think of themselves as having poor mental health has surged.

While increased awareness and destigmatization of mental illness are positive developments, our culture's obsession with mental health may paradoxically be contributing to growing rates of psychological problems, particularly among younger generations. The pathologization of everyday life can create a self-fulfilling prophecy, increasing the likelihood of developing mental health issues. When people start to define themselves as someone suffering from a mental illness, they are more inclined to behave as if they have one, which makes them more likely to actually develop one. Well-meaning efforts to encourage people to think and talk more about their mental health may unintentionally promote rumination, which can also worsen psychological distress.

In short, the way we think and talk about mental health in America has become unhealthy. However, this does not exclude other societal changes that may be contributing to our growing mental health challenges. Indeed, potential causes proposed by scholars, such as overprotective parenting and excessive social media use, might be interconnected with this issue. Helicopter parenting practices, which treat children as physically and psychologically fragile and incapable of independently navigating life's challenges, mirror and potentially reinforce the broader cultural tendency to pathologize normal emotional experiences. Likewise, given that social media platforms are where many of these messages proliferate, the more time young people spend engaging with these platforms, the greater their exposure to mental health misinformation and potentially harmful coping strategies.

So, how can we navigate this landscape and promote mental health without becoming preoccupied with it in ways that ultimately undermine well-being? I propose what I call the outward action approach. Instead of encouraging people to turn inward and focus on their negative thoughts and feelings, this approach directs their attention outward, toward activities that promote psychological flourishing and benefit the broader society.

The outward action approach involves engaging in activities such as physical exercise, spending time with family and friends, working towards educational, professional, or other goals, volunteering, and hobbies, which have all been shown to support good mental health. These pursuits redirect one's attention away from unhealthy passive introspection and rumination, and instead focus on actions that enhance personal well-being and growth, which often positively impact the lives of others. 

While self-directed thought is crucial for determining one's values, beliefs, life priorities, and goals, it is equally important to step out of our minds and actively participate in behaviors that improve our lives and make a difference in the world. Among these activities, those that involve playing a significant role in the lives of others are particularly effective at shifting our attention away from personal problems in a productive manner. In addition to reducing unproductive self-focus, these actions help cultivate a strong sense of meaning in life, which has been identified as a critical resource for maintaining mental health and resilience in the face of challenges. In contrast, our current cultural obsession with mental health often pushes people inward, encouraging them to spend more time in their heads, dwelling on their problems.

It is essential to support those suffering from serious psychiatric conditions and remove barriers to accessing mental health services. It is also a sign of progress that our society has reached a level of abundance that allows people to dedicate time to optimizing their psychological well-being, as they no longer need to worry as much about basic survival needs. However, we must also cultivate a culture that promotes mental health without becoming obsessed with it. In fact, I worry that our cultural preoccupation with mental health might end up harming those most in need of assistance. If more and more people use mental illness language to describe normal states of sadness, stress, self-doubt, worry, and disappointment, others may become less sympathetic to those experiencing severe mental health conditions.

If you are interested in exploring these ideas further, I invite you to read some of my other articles that delve into the details of this challenge and my proposal for an outward action approach to mental health. By shifting our focus from excessive introspection to purposeful action, we can empower individuals to lead more fulfilling lives and build a more mentally healthy society.

- Here is a short article I wrote for the Wall Street Journal, providing an overview of why more mental health talk can be counterproductive and how an outward action approach can help: https://www.wsj.com/articles/mental-health-awareness-can-be-bad-for-mental-health-trigger-warnings-exercise-3db74c3a

- For a longer article that expands on the Wall Street Journal piece and provides links to relevant research, check out this piece I wrote for Discourse Magazine: https://www.discoursemagazine.com/p/outward-action-is-good-for-your-brain

- A more recent article, published last week by Profectus Magazine, details my current thoughts, includes links to relevant research, and is accessible without a paywall: https://profectusmag.com/americas-unhealthy-obsession-with-mental-health/

- I have also written about this issue as it applies specifically to the workplace. Here is a piece I wrote for Harvard Business Review with suggestions for how managers and leaders can cultivate an organizational culture that supports mental health using the outward action approach: https://hbr.org/2023/11/3-ways-to-build-an-organizational-culture-that-supports-mental-health

- Earlier this week, I had an article published in Business Insider focused on Gen Z workers and mental health in the workplace: https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-z-work-talking-about-mental-health-anxiety-depression-hr-2024-6

Have a great weekend!

Clay