Mental Diagnosis: Nobody Likes a Label

No body likes a label.  Mental health professionals do not like them any better than those they diagnose.  You would never hear a professional telling how happy they are that they got to label someone with a diagnosis.  However, we ask you to look at diagnosis from a different perspective.  The act of diagnosis is in effect because the mental health model is based on the medical world.  Doctors look at symptoms, make a diagnosis and treat based on that diagnosis.  If doctors called everything the same thing – let’s say “the flu” then regardless of whether a patient came in with a gapping chest wound, the sniffles or a jaundice look, the doctor said “You have the flu” then the patient would not be treated quickly or efficiently.  Because of the diagnostic process, they are able to identify symptoms, make the diagnosis and act swiftly.  So, it is not the issue of diagnosis.  It is an issue of stigma.  The issue of stigma will be addressed in a future entry. 

Thank you for reading.

Just for Professionals

SaltLakeMentalHealth.com has carved out a special section of the website just for professionals!  This section will include links to find best practices, forums, on-line discussions, tips and calendar of upcoming professionally related events, conferences and CEUs.  We welcome life coaches, spiritual practitioners, interns and licensed medical and mental health professionals.