When Johann Hari comes to the final chapter in his book on depression, he offers the advice that he wishes he had received when he was diagnosed with clinical depression decades ago. He believes that instead of focusing on “chemical imbalances” we should focus on “power imbalances” that lead to distress and suffering. Depression, Hari argues, is a “collective problem caused by something that’s gone wrong in our culture” (260). One solution: build connections and a sense of community. Interestingly, the idea of “building connections” has come up twice this week in articles for teachers on effective learning strategies.
Hari, Johann. Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression — and the Unexpected Solutions. Bloomsbury Circus. 2018. p. 261.