The Machinist -- Our Approach to Mental Health Awareness is Wrong

<p>Perhaps my most controversial episode so far? Today I decided to outline why I believe that society is still blatantly unaware of mental health and the true extent of the pain some of us go through with mental health issues. The futility of utilizing labels and vague symptoms to quantify the difficulties people go through is discussed. While none of us can expect to relate to symptoms of mental disorders or conditions we do not have, it truly is baffling how most of us cannot relate to another's pain simply because little effort has been made in awareness campaigns to talk about the feelings and emotions of the sufferer. I also get a little personal and talk about my own experiences with anxiety and why I believe most people still are not aware of what it involves and how it impacts someone's life!</p><p>While I don't mean to come across as offensive, I understand that a lot of people who have been involved in mental health awareness in the past (as have I) may react strongly to this episode. That being said, there are stark limitations in the current approach that I believe cannot be ignored.</p>