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Beresford's 2020 Article: The Terms Mad And Madness

1417 Words6 Pages

Part A: In Beresford’s 2020 article, the terms ‘mad’ and ‘madness’ are analyzed in relation to the broader topic of mental health. It aims to explain why these terms are so controversial when used to describe people suffering from mental distress and how the emergence of ‘Mad studies’ as a framework has made it possible for words like ‘mad’ and ‘madness’ to be reclaimed by survivors. To put it simply, to reclaim something means to take it back--- in this case, that would be the terms ‘mad’ and ‘madness’ as these kinds of words and terminology have been and continue to be used negatively against mental health service users. Reclaiming these words/terms is crucial, as it takes power away from the language that has been and is used to degrade …show more content…

Which, as we concluded previously the biomedical framework is not a framework that positively impacts survivors, and even though LeFrancois is focusing on psychiatrising children these are facts that apply to all mental health service users. Child psychiatrisation as a form of oppression against children is not a stretch in my opinion as, I have personally dealt with certain terms being used to insult me as a mental health service user and I have dealt with them since I was a young. Age does not make being a stigmatized member of society easier. Reclaiming these words as a survivor matters to me because it takes power away from the people trying to hurt me. I have struggled from mental distress since I was a child and my mum like many other parents tried to help me through the use of mental health …show more content…

Eugenics being, “…the belief that human evolution can be crafted by the encouraged breeding of people who are considered the most desirable—the “fit”—and the discouraged breeding of those who are considered the least desirable—the “unfit” (Withers, 2012, p.13). Reading Wither’s article about eugenics reinforced my beliefs about the horrible way society has and continues to act towards people suffering from mental distress. Society would genuinely rather see people sterilized or dead before offering them actual help or support. The idea that ‘mentally ill’ people are less desirable and ‘unfit’ is still valid today. I can think of two instances immediately when someone has offered me their unsolicited opinions--- opinions that very clearly supported the eugenics

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