Over the last 20 years, ‘cowboying’ within mental health seems to have increased ten-fold. What I mean by ‘cowboying’ are those people who are not genuine about helping people who are struggling with their mental health conditions.
Let me give you an example from a different sector: Instead of hiring a tradesman we find we are faced with con men. Oh yes, I’m sure you’re aware that some of these tradesmen can appear to talk the talk, as we can all read from the tin. But not many have the skills to apply its contents. Our tradesmen have become salesmen, instead of applying all of their energy into learning and mastering their trades; some of them have mastered how to deceive people instead.
Now let’s go back to the mental health landscape: To me, it seems to make no odds at what end of the pay scale people are on, or if their jobs hold a responsibility for the lives of others, these so-called mental health professionals are still deceiving us.
Do you think the best carpenters or any skilled tradesmen spend all of their time advertising? No, they don’t have to, as their work speaks for itself. Word of mouth recommendations are far more of a selling point than any leaflet or ballsy chat up line of: ‘How great you look Mrs Smith!’ or ‘How good am I at selling myself,’ or indeed the latest overused con is how ill they have been, for the sympathy vote from the vulnerable empaths out there. Now can I rob you blind?
Be it mental health or otherwise, word of mouth recommendations are always better because they tend to come from people who have experienced before us. Before printing and broadcasting transformed communications, people relied on word-of-mouth to tell others about their goods.
The internet is a great tool for selling yourself, take reviews for instance. We can delete the genuine ones if they don’t read well; we can ask friends to add false information. We can do virtually anything we want that helps us sell ourselves or our products.
Just who do you think this is benefiting? Neither party in fact. The victims lose themselves to grief – grief for the loss of money, grief for being conned, and in my experience grief for the loss of a loved one.
The perpetrators never benefit either; as through their lies they also remain trapped within the thoughts of the mind.
Getting help for mental, emotional, spiritual, or relationship issues can be difficult. After many years of experience concerning the removal of unwanted baggage from the mind, I find myself time and time again directed to the words of our energy source: the Bible. It may not be for everyone, especially if you’re not religious, but I personally sought help from the Bible for clarification on the signs of the times.
If you are struggling with mental health condition, please be aware that there are different helplines and listening services available that can provide emotional support. They are staffed by trained volunteers who want to help you.
Alexandrina Henderson is a mental health advocate.
