News of the Germanwings crash which left 150 dead has, inevitably, led to questions about what went wrong. In the absence of any technical fault, attention has shifted to Andreas Lubitz, the pilot who appears to have deliberately caused the crash. Reports are now suggesting that Lubitz had a history of depression. Predictably, this has resulted in a barrage of stigmatising, fear-mongering media reports, both in the UK and internationally.
M. Rahim è una psicologa clinica
Depression is among the most common of mental illnesses, and is experienced by around 20% of adults. Characterised by feelings of guilt, hopelessness and reduced interest in pleasurable activities, it can affect anyone, from manual workers to heads of FTSE companies. Indeed, many successful people have experienced depression – among them Winston Churchill, Charles Dickens and Henri Matisse – and there is virtually no evidence to suggest that the depressed pose a danger to others as a result of their illness. This is true of the full range of mental health problems: the scientific literature is clear that people with schizophrenia, long demonised and reviled by the press, are far more likely to be harmed by others or themselves than to enact violence.
It is now known that Lubitz’s aviation training was interrupted for six months, quite possibly because he was recuperating from depression. This is not an uncommon scenario in any industry, and something which wouldn’t have necessarily made him unfit to fly (he did, after all, pass all required physical and psychological assessments before being allowed to do so). To conclude that his role in the crash was the automatic consequence of any history of mental illness would be irresponsible and damaging. There has been no suggestion that males should be prohibited from becoming pilots, that Germans are unfit to fly, or that 27-year-olds should not be let loose in the cockpit. Only one factor has been picked over: Lubitz’s mental health.
The truth is that people with depression are all around us – they are our teachers and solicitors; our plumbers and health professionals. Data obtained following a recent freedom of information request revealed that more than 40,000 NHS staff took sick leave as a result of stress, anxiety and depression in 2014. Up to 20% of those are likely to be medical doctors; indeed, doctors are significantly more likely to experience depression than the general population. Having depression does not necessarily make you unfit to work, but, based upon the headlines in many of today’s papers you could be forgiven for thinking that it does.
We may never fully understand why Lubitz crashed flight 4U9525. Despite that, the assumption that his mental health was the sole reason 149 others died will do nothing to diminish the stigma attached to mental health problems. Fear and discrimination continue to discourage people from disclosing their problems and seeking help early on. Media outlets could have used this tragedy to explore the impact of stress and to highlight the need for greater support. Instead some have chosen to vilify Lubitz and, by association, the millions who share his diagnosis. They have taken the easy option. Worse, they have added to the stigmatisation of a group that society already does a superb job of demonising.
Nessun commento:
Posta un commento