The nature of depressive illness

My problem with Hari's stance is that one size does not fit all. He's also not portraying current approaches to depression accurately. Drs don't think pills are the only answer or option. The effectiveness of antidepressants on a long term basis has been under discussion for at least 10 years. There were other things that rang warning bells for me. But having listened to his TED talk, he is a good speaker. Very believable. I just think he seems to be doing the same thing that he's criticising others for - saying pills aren't the answer, making connections with other human beings is. My experience is a toolkit of different tools is the answer and each person's toolkit is unique.

Thank you for that Wilma. Having just read the short critique of the extract I am shocked by Hari’s take on grief and depression.

I was just coming here to say the same thing Mollie.

I read the article yesterday and almost ordered the book. I had a look for Hari's TED talk and watched it. Then I got distracted (nothing new there) and didn't order the book in the end.

Today though in the Guardian is an article taking issue with what Hari's has to say, not about the effectiveness of antidepressants, but about the impression Hari gives of the current approaches to Depression.

I thought posters might be interested in the second article.

Johann Hari and Depression

In the Guardian today there’s a very unfavourable piece about this written by someone with clinical experience I think. It made interesting reading but I can’t find it now...duh!

www.theguardian.com/media/2018/jan/07/johann-hari-depression-brain-lost-connections-book-interview

I've made the link work