Abstract
Western civilization has, over its relatively recent past, undergone dramatic, unparalleled
changes. The historical period in which these changes have occurred is commonly referred
to as ‘modernity’, and although modernity has had profound repercussions on all aspects of
people’s lives, what has received less attention in the nursing literature is how modernity has
influenced, and continues to influence, the mental health of modern men and women. In an
attempt to address this, the following paper, drawing on the work of Szasz, Nietzsche and
Frankl, seeks to present an accessible introduction to one of the most salient features of
modernity; namely, the erosion of those traditions that gave life a meaning or a purpose, and
that provided people with ready answers to the problem of how they ought to live. The
paper will then introduce some of the possible consequences of this on the mental health of
modern men and women, as well as providing preliminary suggestions as to how mental
health nursing might respond. In doing so, the paper also seeks to stimulate further
discussion and research into how modernity has influenced, and continues to influence, the
mental health of modern men and women, and how psychiatric and mental health nursing
might respond.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 277-281 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing |
Volume | 14 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - May 2007 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Philosophy
- Psychotherapy
- Religion