Is the Britney issue bad for mental health?

On the one hand it has brought mental health issues out into the open, and caused people to talk about issues such as bipolar disorder. Anything which brings mental health issues out of the shadows must be a good thing.

On the other hand an Associated Press article suggests that some believe the decision by some psychologists/psychiatrists to comment on Britney's condition without having ever met her brings the whole mental health profession into disrepute.

"It's not right to this one person," says Dr. Gail Saltz, a New York psychoanalyst and psychiatrist. "But on a grander scheme, it also makes people afraid. They're afraid their confidence might be broken. Or they're afraid they'll become labeled. And labels are very frightening to people."

I believe that the coverage of cases such as Britney probably has a negative effect in the short-term but a positive effect over the longer term, as people are more able to talk about these issues. A few years ago, we would certainly not be discussing a celebrity's mental health issues so openly - instead there would be veiled comments about "personal issues" or someone feeling "tired and emotional".

On the subject of debates - what is the difference between solitude and loneliness?

"Solitude is the state of being alone without being lonely," argues Psychology Today.

Finally, if you're interested in the whole antidepressants debate, there is a very comprehensive post by Seroxat Secrets.