“Medicalization” describes the process by which nonmedical
(social) problems are reclassified as medical problems. The
process is facilitated by the absence of clear definitions of “health” and
“mental disorder”. The drivers of medicalization include not only the
medical profession. Everyday distress is medicalized into depression.
Suicide has been medicalized and the response to distress and suicidal
thinking has become antidepressant medication rather than appropriate
social support. Two cases are presented (Robert FitzRoy and Lord
Clive). The medicalization of distress and suicidal thinking is damaging
rather than being helpful.
