The Alien Test: An Outside View of Human Responses to Mental Distress

Abstract

This commentary imagines what responses to mental distress on Planet Earth might look like to a rational, humane alien from a planet where responses to people with mental distress are compassionate and just. The alien visits Canada and New Zealand and concludes that discrimination skews social and service responses and that the narrow, deficits approach to services does not improve outcomes. Despite this, the alien perceives little sense of urgency for change. The alien then describes the recovery-oriented responses on their own planet and makes recommendations for system change on Planet Earth. The alien points out that deep change in a system with finite resources will require removing the âœcontrolâ elements of services, closing hospitals, and reducing the dominance of biological psychiatry. The alien emphasizes that it is not sufficient just to build the leadership of people with mental distress, provide a broader range of services for diverse cultures and communities, and promote social inclusion if the failed elements of the old system remain.