Easy solutions to psychological problems?

Psychological problems are common. People don't always adjust to difficulties in life and relationships very well. They don't always meet their own or others' expectations of how they should function socially.

Solutions on offer to psychological problems from mental health services, such as psychotropic medication and talking therapy, may, therefore, seem attractive. This can mean that the limits to treatment are not always acknowledged or recognised. Wishful thinking can be powerful and self-fulfilling.

The trouble is that this situation means that providing increasing resources for mental health services can never meet the perceived need of the population  (see eg. my BMJ article with corrections - see previous post). Psychological problems are real and the role of mental health services is to respond to them and provide care until normal social roles can be resumed. No wonder mental health services are in difficulty if they think that panaceas to mental health problems are the answer (see eg. another previous post).