Systemic Health Includes Mental Health: Toward Accepting the Truth of Reality

Grounded in Gregory Bateson’s philosophy, this article explores the link between mental health and the health of the system(s) with which the human species interacts. Integrating ecological, psychological, and macroecological insights, mental health is reframed within the systemic paradigm, honoring the interdependence of mind, society, environment, and reality. Humanity’s dominant worldview is a self-reinforcing and self-destructive delusion—insanity; pathological population density and size exemplify both cause and symptom of insanity. Compromised systemic health—abnormality among parts of reality—is a deep dysfunction called Systemic Abnormality Disorder. Only a paradigm shift to systemic thinking can alleviate the self-destructive mode of human participation in reality, fostering both psychological and ecological healing. Such a shift expands democracy to include the voices and participation of all species (not just humans) and achieves an integrated worldview consistent with reality. All beliefs are taken into account. Systemic thinking is essential for the health of the planet and its components—particularly the continued survival of the human species.