Newsletter
Free-Range2023-04-10
“All in all, you're just another brick in the wall.”
—Pink Floyd
What is the best way to raise kids, and more generally, what is the best way to live, in today’s world? Regimentation, industrialization, and standardization have led to efficiency and order in a chaotic world. Instead of being “free-range”, most people live their life in the metaphorical equivalent of “factory farms”, whether they realize it or not. This is not ideal for the individual, but is it still effective, and does it serve the needs of society anymore, in the age of automation and AI?
The emerging answer is no. We are seeing an increase in mental health issues, addictions, and societal discord, as a result of the tension between the regimented approach and the yearning for a free-range one, with the existing way of doing things devolving into a more personalized and participatory approach.
In my field, medicine in general, and psychiatry in particular, that means a move towards personalized, whole-person care, with the participation of the patient in their own care and, ultimately, life, using the latest precision tools, such as the digital and molecular ones we have developed. One size does not fit all. We encourage people to self-track their mental health, and work with their therapists and clinicians on developing personalized treatment and improvement plans for their life and mind.
Live. Happier. Longer.