Alastair Santhouse on What “Normal” Mental Health Really Means

Today I’m joined by consultant psychiatrist and author Alastair Santhouse to ask a big question: what counts as “normal” mental health? We explore the difference between everyday ups and downs and problems that really stop you living your life, and how labels can both open doors to support and stick in unhelpful ways. We talk about why ADHD and autism diagnoses seem to be rising, how Alastair assesses people by looking at their whole life (not just checklists), and the simple difference between psychiatrists and psychologists. We also touch on the growth in antidepressant use and the risk of turning social pain - like loneliness or money stress - into medical illness. Finally, we unpack how words like “trauma,” “OCD,” and “narcissist” get thrown around online, and why precision matters. This isn’t personal medical advice - please speak to your GP if you’re concerned.

Find Alastair:

Website: https://www.alastairsanthouse.com/

Books: https://www.alastairsanthouse.com/author

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