Ill-defined: Concepts of mental health and illness are becoming broader, looser, and more benign

Abstract

Objectives: We argue that mental health-related concepts have become degraded within professional circles and in the wider community. We identify three trends: concept creep, the rise of broad umbrella concepts (e.g. distress and trauma), and the conflation of mental health with well-being, which marginalises serious mental illness. We speculate on the causes of these trends, including cultural shifts towards greater sensitivity to harm and the rise of wellness industries. Contributing factors within psychiatry include overdiagnosis, dimensional models and transdiagnostic perspectives. Conclusions: These trends may lead to inflated demands on services from those at the milder end of the psyc..