Robert Whitaker: The Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness in the US

Robert Whitaker shares the challenges he faced while writing his book "Anatomy of an Epidemic: Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs, and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness in America," which looks at the merits of psychiatric medications through the prism of long-term results. This lecture was presented by Science for the Public and recorded on 5/4/10. View more lectures at: / wgbhforum

[@lorimav]

I suspect that besides harmful psychiatric meds there is also a strong correlation with both parents working during the early childhood of their children. Many of us were raised by at a parent who stayed home and provided a secure stable home environment.

[@anatino]

I had absent parents, father drinking and mother working 14 hours a day. They were arguing a lot. Ever since I was 12 I am not normal. I am suffering of anxiety/intrusive thoughts about my son which I love with all my heart. I made sure my son lives in warm environment and I was home at 6pm having dinner together. He is 20 and he is the most level headed person you will ever meet.

[@nancylpr]

Split from Narcissistic, psychopathic, Machiavellian toxic “family” members ASAP 90 % of “mental illness” solved. One reason drugs were so widely accepted and the whole “chemical imbalance” theory was embraced was when children have problems, the people paying the bills are rarely open to accepting any responsibility for family dysfunction. The other stimulus driving the chemical imbalance acceptance is the pharmaceutical industry.

[@extrastout1741]

So true

[@trinitytwo14992]

Excellent post

[@jenniferfinlayson8503]

I quite agree.

[@acjohn6995]

I'm a former social worker, and it's sad to see that psychiatry and the medical model is such trash. The human race is a holistic experience, in the modern world we live isolated lives focused on work and sitting in front of the TV, there's far less social interaction, we commute in our cars isolated from each-other, this loneliness and pressure to exist results in stress, trauma and mental illness.

[@kirstinstrand6292]

In other words, we live in a plastic culture. Thank you for sharing your thoughts; there are many of us that agree.

[@acjohn6995]

@bina nocht Totally agree.

[@averayugen8462]

Its not focused on "work" when a third of us are unemployed or used up in toxic substitute pursuits. Also mental illness comes from wrong living and the emptiness it causes, so its no wonder we all have it. duh.

[@AdamBechtol]

Aye

[@tomboker8506]

could you elaborate a little more please? Less social interaction causing the mental illness- and what you mean by pressure to exist. Thank you

[@squeezeme3316]

Where is the discussion about Big Pharma's underhanded tactics in perpetuating the current abuse of pharmaceuticals.

[@6teezkid]

Absolutely

[@gaillewis5472]

Yes, there are legitimate mental illnesses. There are however, those who chose to label common strife, grief and struggle as psychiatric anomalies. They aren't. Grief after loss of a loved one takes time. Being fired, moving or breaking up does not require a pharmaceutical fix but rather working through one's genuine emotions. We are resilient and will be okay.

[@goodgrief888]

Thank you, this is very correct. Unfortunately we have pathologized too many normal reactions to trauma because our modern western society doesn’t know how to handle anything out of the norm that doesn’t churn the wheel of capitalism. We aren’t allowed to take time off of work to grieve a death of a child, to be with people who are also grieving, to heal from trauma, etc. We’re expected to take one day off of work at most and get right back to “being normal,” and pretend that the world is not turned upside down. Since this video aired we, as a society, have been through major traumatic events also, while many of us have had traumatic personal experiences at the same time. Many of us have realized that the break we were forced to take was something we needed. But also very isolating. We need to learn from all of this and stop just medicating every traumatic event so we can keep working for others.

[@ry9348]

❤🎉✌😇🕊

[@jefferynordgulen4436]

This video is 9 years old I wonder if the times is right to make an update because mental illness is a magnitude worse today! I hypothicize that it is because colleges have churned out way to many phycologist that are trying to justify their positions.

[@averayugen8462]

No psychologists are being churned out anymore. But those flunky idiot CPC's are setting up shop everywhere and then never answering the phone when people want help, or getting abusive when u CAN get through. They think they are all doctor freud but they are criminally ignorant and untrained and that's all that exists for therapists anymore. So quit sugar, start exercising and be your own therapist. YOU HAVE NO CHOICE

[@elizabethabbott2982]

I have seen two friends become highly over-excited on prescribed anti depressants; they were both embarrassed at their behaviour; both were brain damaged; on their behalves I contacted the pharmaceutical companies to make an adverse reaction report and found the reps unfailingly courteous and genuinely interested; so my beef is with the doctors; it is not enough to tell a patient Call if There is a Problem, because in a manic state they would not realize their behavior is abnormal. they should be in hospital under observation for a day or two or in a half-way house... when a med is first prescribed or a dosage changed. I asked a doc if athletes for example could process a med differently from say a sedentary heavily built person... he said yes ...

[@bluest1524]

Well, that same pharma company aggressively marketed to those doctors, flattered them, bought them meals and vacations, and influence legislators as well. I agree however, that doctors are often incompetent, cowardly technicians whose most effective tool is a stupid white pad with a DEA #.

[@drawwithme6634]

Don't detach from the earth, from human contact, from spirituality, and from rituals.

[@coimbralaw]

Based on your preachy comment, I think you’re already detached… Perhaps from reality.🤣

[@babyinvasion]

I completely agree to not detach from these things....

[@indianagirl500]

Highlight this comment please

[@indianagirl500]

Totally Agree

[@Find-Your-Bliss-]

If you are paying attention, it’s not surprising at all. This culture is unhealthy, the government does not support the people, and the people have been manipulated to hate each other. What a shite-show America has become. Being in touch with your feelings and care for yourself. Love yourself Have fun Learn what you can from the events around you, but don’t let them take you under.

[@lilaponi4444]

Good medical journalists like Robert Whitaker, you are so appreciated! I have been grieving for science for a while now -- since Regan actually. We are going backwards.

[@Craigdna]

Robert, you are one of the best investigative reporters I have had the pleasure of learning from. Interesting, learning about schizophrenia as various metal toxicities reveal that there is a connection between spectrum disorders, in general, and some of the exceptions to the rule, who remain on anti psychotics, should explore natural chelation methods. By that, I am referring to N-Acetyl Cysteine, Methionine, and of course the B Vitamin complex. In our society, everyone is looking for 1 singularity of a solution or answer, and most often, there are many. Thank you for your work and efforts as they are invaluable in today's society.

[@averayugen8462]

what's the connection between environmental autism (yes I believe thats the cause) and schizophrenia in general (where NO ONE recognize toxic causes but I do)

[@indianagirl500]

Should have been delivered to public info from the medical professionals not a journalist . He made a very brave and truth statement right there. He is saying some real truths here

[@kirstinstrand6292]

No one can control Big Pharma.

[@mtoaeko5588]

Thank you Thank you your work! And everyone like you!

[@olafweyer859]

I will never take mind or mood altering subscription drugs. I want the inner strength to overcome myself. I had it a few times. It reassures me, that I can have that strength again. THAT makes things better.

[@gonzoontheroad]

I thought the same. Then I end up on neuroleptics. That sucks. Sooner or later I will stop the medication. Question to you: Have you made it without medication?

[@olafweyer859]

@@gonzoontheroad I'm not even diagnosed with something, I just know things are off. I don't and wouldn't medicate. As for drugs in general, I smoke a pack of cigs a day and have a beer every two months or so. I dunno, man. We all have our burden to carry. Some ailments have made it to be professionally categorized and some haven't. But EVERYONE goes through suffering. In the end, what difference does it make if there's a label on it? Or how much does that help. Life remains both great and sad for all.

[@gonzoontheroad]

@@olafweyer859 Thank you for your respond and wise words! Good luck in everything.

[@olafweyer859]

@@gonzoontheroad same to you, man, thanks!

[@enriquecastillo3729]

Well , in consideration... Is ok? I mean make sure you know what you have , you know what you want to get out of it... Would this not be good? Like I said in consideration.. so . Marijuana joints every 6 months is totally fine . But I would like to agree with you that realizing and fixing ones faults through sobriety or full control is best.

[@latinsoundssouls]

Thank you Robert Great Bloody Work Mate

[@sumarew]

It's a cultural issue. In the west, people are on their own. Mentally ill people are on their own, isolated with only professionals around them. In other cultures, you have your family and friends around you.

[@alexk48]

May be too much stereotyping and single variable thinking in your comment. Don't discount that a major difference between Western European / USA culture and non Western cultures is the Enlightenment belief in science. There is a belief that science + it's experts (gurus) have a treatment for all ills, discomforts and societal problems.

[@tcrijwanachoudhury]

@@alexk48 nah its true westerners are encouraged to neglect their families its the way their society is set up, however the breakdown of the nuclear family is a phenomena that is today spreading to the east anyway likely due to globalization, capitalism etc

[@annegallagher8284]

Great video! So much suffering is been caused by uninformed psychiatrists.

[@shawnpalmer6715]

thank goodness did not give in to the suggestions to take anti depressants one time he said we have not ruled out medication i have known a few people who did not fare very well with the medication to treat mental illness

[@ronruggieri9817]

American psychiatry props up the capitalist status quo.

[@averayugen8462]

More by unhealthy living. Most of human civilization there were no doctors of the soul. The suffering is caused by not knowing how to live. Who is to blame 4 that??

[@abramgaller2037]

The morality of psychiatric drug use leaves a lot to be desired.

[@larrysherk]

Just looking at our foreign policy is enough to suggest we are getting crazier and crazier.

[@kirstinstrand6292]

LOL...not funny! Oh my goodness - honesty is always best.

[@matthewatwood8641]

The chemical imbalance thing is b*******.

[@nostalgic_blue]

Author speaks at 2:50

[@suzannehartmann946]

I have another question. You took them off the meds cold turkey. Did you try taking them off gently, drawing it down?

[@suzannehartmann946]

ALSO giving them assistance with psychology and group therapy and assistance at work?

[@wallybingbang4350]

Duloxetine (Cymbalta) for anxiety put me through months of hell. Evil nasty chemicals damaged my nervous system, my eyes, made me more anxious, suicidal and very disturbing. Similar experience with Prozac in the 90s Ely Lily you have damaged me for life 👿

[@KatJ3st]

The stuff saved my life. Everyone has different body chemistry.

[@wallybingbang4350]

@@KatJ3st Yes and the P450 enzymes that metabolise the compounds in our liver. Tramadol will pass through the liver as an analgesic but for some people it will metabolise as an SNRI so it is sometimes prescribed for anxiety. Well done on finding a drug that suits you. I'm intolerant to many drugs anyway.

[@katedawson6654]

I found the anti depressants that make me drowsy are the only ones that help.

[@wallybingbang4350]

@@katedawson6654 Tricyclics ?

[@inezkarkabe2454]

The rise of unhappyness being medicalized. Not unhappiness.

[@MrBobbymacaroni]

Use to be, the most seriously affected individuals died from neglect and suicide. Especially with the advent of SSDI and Medicaid, could the increased awareness and proactive medical committment of these oreviously doomed individuals retain them in the present pool of treated sufferers who continue their chronically unremitting symptomatology, when before they would have been the "dropouts" from studies?

[@jeanpaultongeren125]

its probably because of the decrease in eating normal and healthy foods since the 70's. Fish and Omega 3 are a neccesity for the brain. Then the campaings came for sugar, candybars. Most people started living unhealthy

[@dreamdiction]

4:16 "anti-psychotic drugs" anti-depressant drugs" "anti-anxiety drugs" . . . they are different names for the same thing, they are all tranquilizers which stupefy the brain.

[@jakecarlo9950]

Love that Whittaker gets the disclaimer. Come on y’all are you that scurred?

[@thomasstevenrothmbamd2384]

Robert Whitaker is a leading secular investigative journalist on the massive and international topic of the bad science and bad medicine and bad history of psychiatric standards of care. Most journalists get this topic mostly wrong, but not Robert Whitaker in his books "Mad In America" and "Anatomy of an Epidemic" as proven in my ethics teaching and the best-in-class secular expert witness references in my 5/2/18 letter to the editor of the British Medical Journal and my 8/16/18 Medicaid.gov public comment (which are both set in the context of two real-life current-events public health policy examples and) available for free at the following two URL addresses: www.bmj.com/content/356/bmj.j1058/rr-1 public.medicaid.gov/connect.ti/public.comments/showUserAnswers?qid=1897507&voteid=352593&nextURL=%2Fconnect%2Eti%2Fpublic%2Ecomments%2FquestionnaireVotes%3Fqid%3D1897507%26sort%3Drespondent%5F%5FcommonName%26dir%3Dasc%26startrow%3D1%26search%3D In Biblical Love for All People Everywhere, Thomas Steven Roth, MBA, MD Christian Minister for Biblical Medical Ethics, and therefore Religious and Scientific Refugee from the Clinical Practice of the Standards of Care of Psychiatry P.O. Box 24211 Louisville, KY 40224 March 26, 2020

[@kingjungsu]

because they make normal symtom make definition as a problem.

[@clausmehl8731]

Mental unhealthcare

[@Cassandra-wz6gq]

Antipsychotics address positive symptoms (delusions, hallucinations, disorganized behavior), they aren't effective in helping negative symptoms (poverty of speech, lack of motivation, numbness, lack of interest, blunted affect). It's well and good that a person is no longer hearing voices, but if they completely lack motivation to the point it's hard for them to shower or brush their teeth, lack interest in pretty much everything or can't carry on much of a conversation unless they're asked a question it's going to be hard for that person to live independently. A study comparing antipsychotics to psychosocial treatment isn't informative as far as grading antipsychotics. The psychosocial treatment intervention addresses the most debilitating aspect of schizophrenia (negative symptoms), while the other doesn't. Perhaps a comparison of antipsychotics + psychosocial treatment vs psychosocial treatment would be more informative. This would remove the impact of negative symptoms on the outcome.

[@ioodyssey3740]

I just want to hear The Last Farewell.

[@jrt4585]

Im not surprised.

[@catgumart]

I agree with the position that medicine is over-prescribed or forced and I am against this, but I'm pro-SSDI for people for people with mental health issues. One thing that causes these symptoms is stress. Employment and all the struggling and striving that goes with it causes depression and usually influences mental health negatively . I think if people have time and environment and light work options and counseling options and other therapeutic options then this is good idea for therapy, but the benefits should be more generous as living on benefits is equivalent to poverty which is also harmful and unhealthy.Class and Economic injustice are a major root cause of mental health issues.In lower classes it is obvious with the crime,depressing environment,junk food,deprivation,exposure to more toxins, the bad jobs and the low status and inaccessibility or very strained accessibility to tools,resources,facilities to reach higher potential all the contributes greatly to mental health issues. Even upper class people can often have psychological problems that stem from their culture of wealth and status, but especially from the lowest to about the lower middle class.

[@printerpica]

Not one single scientific study has proven SSRIs help with anxiety or depression, but according to to the New England Journal of Medicine, SSRIs can permanently alter a person's neural pathways in as little as 30 days, so if a doc guesses wrong in what and how much of a SSRI they prescribe, they can cause a traumatic brain injury similar to those found in car accident victims that last a lifetime, so please, don't think such chemicals aren't dangerous.

[@clausmehl8731]

@@printerpica every dangerous

[@printerpica]

@@clausmehl8731 What does every dangerous mean? I'm unsure of what you are trying to say.

[@printerpica]

What do you mean about the low classes? You realize of course that, SSDI's often present as TBI's after long term use, right? Talk works far better than drugs and this is well known and understood, but as we learn, one important part of learning is understanding how non-GMO and processed foods come into play. If people don't know or understand what it means to eat correctly,. we'll keep discussing the very same things.

[@carolm3417]

Lol SSDI is not SSRI. You all are talking about two different things.

[@mikepict9011]

I'm definitely yelling at children about how their parents raised them ..... which is pointless, the solution is wherever they get food . And stopping that mechanism.

[@carolm3417]

Lol what

[@mikepict9011]

@@carolm3417 your " trade " can't support yourselves. Like children, dependents. So why does anyone care about your opinions? Desperately lonely. Needing attention. Everyone else needs a neurologist.

[@mikepict9011]

@@carolm3417 seriously these labels you invented cover up real , often chemically induced brain damage. And hiding that fact kills people. People with value. Unlike you .

[@deadsi]

Thought this was gonna be an mma fighter talking about grievous bodily harm

[@1HorseOpenSlay]

Eleven years ago 😮

[@lindajean780]

What does Man Know about the Human Reality in reality?!?!🤨😐🤔🤷🏾‍♀️💜🕊

[@enriquecastillo3729]

I know it's gonna take me some time to be able to recall all of this info. Remember take everything like a grain of salt. And be good to your fellow . I know it's ruff butt you can do it

[@danielstonebrook104]

I got off schizophrenia drugs after 17 years I have no symptoms of hallucinations. Synchronicity was how it started, and enough for electric shock and clozapine. The memory of who I was before was lost. You can not remember the state of being. Now I'm a little dumber much more social and kind of a big kid, but am impulsive but unable to make big decisions or real progress. Oh well I hope this helps someone the medication by the fda says without hospitalization you should be taken off in a few years. I took myself off because it depleted my hormones to 60yr old man by 28. I went off over half decade in order to be able to sleep. The medicine causes a cognitive screen to exist between you and the world. I was audio hallucinating the whole time but this screen allowed me to passively complete a college degree including masters with good b+ education but today education ??? I have had no relationship since first diagnosed I'm a new person but kind of an odd ball out but a very well liked person, funny and often told by coworkers that I am a real friend. I believe that the best most neccessary thing is to change location and circumstance so patient can identify in a new situation. If you come off hallucinations can become incredibly intense but after you develop a kind of self loathing relationship towards the stimulus as noise but not conditional in the long run. My iq is lower now my attention or attachment to stimulus to such things like my phone is probably worse is a huge stumbling block. Coming off meds hallucinations high when dosages low but couldn't sleep with I was highly irritable when initially completely off. But you could imagine the resentment and only family are connected to these events

[@kirstinstrand6292]

Thank you for your thoughts; it seems that you have made significant changes, requiring much determination and courage. It would be wonderful if you were able to guide or encourage others who also desire more meaningful lives. Good on you!

[@babyinvasion]

These people were/are ahead of their time. Idk how these psychiatric drugs are legal. Lazy, money-hungry doctors....

[@tamdingphuntsok9280]

Don’t do drugs

[@enriquecastillo3729]

Ok mom

[@sandrakoker3277]

That’s not new we have been wild cowboys and crazy people who don’t have a clue what happened with the people who are normal and they don’t know anything about that anymore

[@guestuser4503]

The V commonalities

[@averayugen8462]

I don't understand the astonishing rise of inhumanity in the world. But when these professionals do maybe they can justify their position paychecks and storyline. By the way the expression "magic bullet" is a fallacy and everyone uses it this way. The MAGIC BULLET WAS A BAD THING cause it ripped through two potential assassination victims in 11/63 and one bullet made 14 twists and turns before emerging untouched on a surgical table. MAGIC BULLETS ARE NOT GOOD 4 ANYTHING. Neither is that chemical toxic goo-pill we shove down the throats of depressed people

[@ancabostinariu6550]

??????

[@marcpadilla1094]

Everything to do with opulence and success. The flip.side is steep

[@dawnbaldwin5919]

Your labels are killing innocent workers!

[@enriquecastillo3729]

Thanks for the internet whoever his name was

[@HuGANityNsanity]

Looks like this entire platform has been flooded with AI generated content and all of the human creators are GONE!

[@suzannehartmann946]

You considered VALIUM a step FORWARD??? You did not live with someone TAKING it then.!

[@katedawson6654]

I self medicated with it. It ok for 2 weeks then thats it!

[@morthim]

'altimers disease isnt psychiatric' stupid special pleading doesnt make an arguement better, it makes it worse. if a mental disorder isnt a mental disorder, stating that it isnt a mental disorder isnt an arguement. it is an assertion. jt would be more respectable to say that a class of things considered mental disorders arent because some specific rationalization. it is fine to say pi isnt a number, but only if you say why it isnt. you dont get to say some arbitrary stupid thing which doesnt make sense without blowback, and just get to have it granted when it is the crux of the topic. if a convention is worng and you are going to bring it up, establish a pattern for how it is wrong, dont just cherry pick a couple examples of it being wrong. even if altimers and some other disease have nothing to do with the mind, but some other rationalization like aging, you have to bring it up quickly or you discredit yourself. as you have done.

[@kahlodiego5299]

Why astonishing?

[@ssrs0pus]

Science is Christian in america. The non scabs vs the scabs.

[@REGjr]

Best treatment for schizophrenia would be matricide, speaking of offlabel prescriptions

[@DenianArcoleo]

Care to elaborate?

[@REGjr]

@@DenianArcoleo L O L like a how-to manual? Nah, I’m just saying it’s behaviorally/environmentally heritable and psychiatry stopped saying so in the 50s 60s to protect itself (public image and income). I do think it would be interesting if anybody wanted to study the recidivism rate of schizophrenics NCR for parricide though, because subject decompensation at the age of leaving home seems pretty obviously about freedom from the domineering reference object.

[@squeezeme3316]

You could do well to improve your writing skills.

[@REGjr]

@@squeezeme3316 lol because you can’t? Must be the mother of a schizophrenic kid. A parent so-easily prompted to irrational criticism of writing with no grammar, usage, or spelling errors OF COURSE drives her kid crazy.

[@essveekaye]

@@REGjr domineering reference object.

[@ssrs0pus]

👎🏽👎🏽👎🏽👎🏽👎🏽👎🏽