Four Differents Comments and Response to Tim Sims, Vincent Butcher, Edwina Derry, Steve Bolay

Response to Tim Sims Through Tim Sim’s definition, the difference between psychological distress and mental illness is clarified in that an individual experiencing “distress” still has some control over his/her mental faculties, but is already approaching the end of his/her capacity to cope. Meanwhile, “mental illness” are prolonged periods of time where the individual’s capacity to function is affected by his/her emotional concerns. (BBC Staff, 2013). This distinction is important because it marks the counselor’s role in bringing back mental health. Typically, a person in “distress” experiences depression and anxiety sometimes accompanied by somatic symptoms (e.g. headaches, general weakness, etc.). Research shows that psychological distress is not just a mental condition, but is also a function of environment and social roles (Drapeau, Marchand, & Beaulieu-Prévost, 2012, p. 123). Individuals who are better off financially – those who are able to provide for their family’s basic needs, and generally have higher self esteem – have lower propensity for psychological distress. In this sense, for one to recover from psychological distress, it is important to ensure first that they are physically healthy – only then can counselors ensure that whatever therapies they have programmed for the client, can actually work. BBC Staff. (2013). When does your mental health become a problem? Retrieved February 22, 2016, from /science/0/22028518 Drapeau, A., Marchand, A., & Beaulieu-Prévost, D. (2012). Epidemiology of Psychological Distress. In Mental Illnesses – Understanding, Prediction and Control. In Tech Open. Retrieved from /books/mental-illnesses-understanding-prediction-and-control/epidemiology-of-psychological-distress Response to Vincent Butcher I agree with Vincent that there individuals experiencing psychological distress are still largely misunderstood. In fact, many are blamed for their incapacity to handle life’s challenges. What few people realize is that “distress” is not a personal choice, but is rather, a “combination of physical, psychological and environmental factors” (BBC Staff, 2013). Sometimes the propensity for psychological distress is inherited, in other cases, it is caused by actual experience of neglect, abuse and trauma. While no research has been able to find the exact cause of psychological distress, it is clear that anybody experiencing it are alre...