“The Problem with the Solution” is a podcast that introduces the differences in methods for treating mentally ill patients in the United States versus that abroad. Interestingly, the narrator, Ellen Baxter’s mother also suffered from a mental illness, which was treated in the States. However, the narrator points out the detrimental effects of taking medications, for it snatched away her mother’s liveliness, personality and attitude. Baxter’s realization of the inefficacy of this approach initiated her to seek for a way that will properly treat those diagnosed with mental illnesses while keeping them from losing a sense of his/her identity.

In her journey to find other methods, she came upon a town name Geel in Belgium. The town’s collective and revolutionary approach towards mentally ill people was to consider them as a part of the family – sort of like adopting a child. The solution here for treating these people was to have no solution. In this case, the best way to deal with this conflict was to learn how to accept and embrace these people. They were not considered patients, but rather family members. The intimacy of these bonds is what keeps people diagnosed as mentally ill true to his/her individuality. Mentally ill people are not considered outcasts and placed at the outskirts of society. They are still under the branch of ordinary people. However when Baxter showed the desire to build such a foundation in the US, this system was blatantly rejected due to its incompatibility.

It is in our human nature to constantly improve society by finding solutions to events that do not fit the definition of “normality.” This instinct is the same reason to why there is a constant drive to finding solutions than simply accepting a situation, for solution is commonly linked with improvement. Hence, this podcast serves to complicate the general notion of the benefits of solutions by demonstrating the positive impacts of not having a solution. The role of emotion is significant when determining the efficacy of treating mentally ill patients. Thus, this raises the question of to what extent does our limited ability to empathize with others inhibit the treatment of mentally ill patients? Furthermore, how does this podcast change your views on how the values of American society influence the treatment of mentally ill patients? Both these questions are concerned with the role of emotion and perception along with factors that shape this perception. Ultimately, one’s value system and emotion are key to establishing a proper solution for treating mentally ill patients, or accepting the lack of resolution.

Works Cited

Rosin, Hannah. “The Problem with the Solution.” Invisibilia, NPR, 2016.