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Mental Health and the economic system

Mental health has become a major issue in our society today, and capitalism plays a large role in people’s mental health.

Capitalism is an economic system that prioritizes the accumulation of wealth, and it encourages an individualistic culture of competition. This intense focus on money and the pursuit of profit can be detrimental to mental well-being. Capitalism produces an increasingly unequal power structure, and this environment can be hostile to those at the bottom of the economic ladder. The system can create stress, anxiety and depression by putting individuals in difficult positions. For example, low-income earners often have to work long hours for not enough pay, making it difficult for them to focus on their mental health. Capitalism also encourages putting more emphasis on material success than personal relationships, which can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation. Additionally, capitalism can pit workers against each other and create feelings of insecurity and mistrust. Moreover, in a society that heavily values money, those without significant amounts of wealth can feel inadequate and invisible. In addition it also creates a stigma surrounding mental illness and invalidates suffering (lack of sick leave, ...)

Consequently, there are serious mental health issues associated with capitalism, and these are further exacerbated by its emphasis on competition, material success and inequality.

Mental health is of paramount importance and requires integration into society in order to ensure that all citizens have the necessary resources to grow and thrive. Under Socialism, access to mental health services is and would be a right that everyone should have.

In order to do this, the government provides "free" mental healthcare services through national socialized health systems, as well as other community-based resources such as psychologists, counselors, and support groups. This access to mental health services also encompasses medicine, therapies, and technological advances to treat and manage mental illness, ensuring everyone in society can receive the highest quality of care in the most timely and equitable way possible. It is also important to ensure that individuals do not experience any kind of discrimination while accessing these services. This includes access to mental health literacy, job security, and a safe environment where mental health issues can be discussed openly and without any fear. In addition, training for mental health professionals needs to be increased in order to ensure their skills are up-to-date with the latest breakthroughs and to ensure that any individual, regardless of their economic or social status, can receive appropriate and immediate care.
In this way, Socialism makes sure that all citizens receive the care and attention they need to lead productive lives.
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Alyosha · 31-35, M
While I don't like capitalism, it's what works right now. Good luck with that socialism thing; it's been so successful so far.
Gloomy · F
@Alyosha Chile under Allende was promising before outside forces crushed it. Social democratic concepts are already in place and would only need to be moved further left also you didn't even adress the mental health aspect of it.
Gloomy · F
@Alyosha [quote]it's what works right now[/quote]

Depending on who you ask. Overall the system is failing us in the west and the exploited third world workers would also disagree with you.
Alyosha · 31-35, M
@Gloomy You're looking at very small timescales. Short term thinking doesn't help you understand the dynamicsof development.
Gloomy · F
@Alyosha Small timescale? What are you talking about? Since the industrial revolution there has been plenty of time to assess development and even before we had systems and hierarchies in place that are reproduced under capitalism. Also the impact on our environment is evident.
@Alyosha I don't like capitalism and it's definitely not what works.
Alyosha · 31-35, M
@Roundandroundwego You could regulate everything through the state. What else is the alternative?
@Alyosha democracy in the economic system is definitely a human right,
In the USA everyone knows you're paying a lot to keep everything privatized. People understand why - you need the oppression to protect your oligarchs and their system from democracy in general.
Alyosha · 31-35, M
@Roundandroundwego And do the social justice stack?
@Alyosha ?
Social justice stack?
Alyosha · 31-35, M
@Roundandroundwego Oh dear god are you ill-informed. The last time they tried assembly democracy without leaders was OWS and that was a joke.
@Alyosha the ignorant believe in human rights and America. It's one or the other, really. Thanx for the update! Murka doesn't want yer dumb rights and booooom! You can werkkk fer it or be dead. We can't talk to it and you know we don't negotiate with killers in the killing process that never ends.