Neoliberalism and Mental Health: A Critical Theoretical Analysis
Keywords:
social suffering, structural inequality, pharmaceutical industry, biomedicalization, mental health, NeoliberalismAbstract
This paper explores the impact of neoliberalism, as both an economic model and a style of socio-political governance, on mental health. It focuses on how neoliberalism, rooted in the culture of individualization, the dominance of market logic, and mechanisms of diminishing state responsibility, shapes the conditions under which mental health is experienced and addressed. The social reality constructed by neoliberal regimes both challenges mental well-being and limits access to related services. It commodifies mental health care by reshaping therapeutic and diagnostic practices to align with market demands and by developing treatment pathways that are increasingly oriented toward pharmaceutical industries. The study draws on the work of critical theorists—most notably Mark Fisher and Nikolas Rose—and compiles research and data that demonstrate the direct connection between neoliberal policies and the individualization, biomedicalization, and depoliticization of mental health. Particular attention is given to the introduction of neoliberal logic into post-socialist contexts, which exacerbates suffering rooted in structural inequality. The paper concludes that under contemporary capitalism, mental health must be understood not merely through individual or clinical frameworks but within broader social and political contexts. Its improvement requires systemic changes that move beyond individual approaches and acknowledge the structural sources of psychological distress.
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