The Social and Political Prerequisites for Genuine Psychological Health and Wellbeing

Our psychological health and wellbeing are largely dependent on our social circumstances. To promote genuine psychological health and wellbeing, we need to protect and promote universal human rights, as enshrined in the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Because experiences of neglect, rejection and abuse are hugely important in the genesis of many problems, we need to redouble our efforts to protect children from emotional, physical or sexual abuse and neglect. Equally, we must protect both adults and children from bullying and discrimination: whether that is racism, homophobia or discrimination based on sexuality, gender, disability or ‘mental health’ or any other characteristic. We can all do more to combat discrimination and promote a more tolerant and accepting society. More generally, if we are serious about preventing psychological health problems from developing and about promoting genuine psychological well-being, we must work collectively to create a more humane society: to reduce or eliminate poverty, especially childhood poverty, and to reduce financial and social inequality. We need to work harder to promote peace, social justice and equity and ensure that citizens are properly fed, housed and educated and living in a sustainable natural ecosystem. We need to promote social mobility and social inclusion, encourage actions aimed at the common or collective good (for instance through practical support of local charitable activities) and reduce both corruption and materialistic greed. In a fair society, in a society that protects our psychological health and wellbeing, we would ensure that everyone had a meaningful job or role in society and we would eliminate unhealthy organisational cultures at work.