How often do we hear that mental health challenges are ‘just personal problems’? What if the real issue runs much deeper—beneath the surface of individual struggles, into the very systems that shape our world? What if societal systems themselves are shaping not just how we experience stress but how we even understand what it means to be mentally well? When we step back, a broader pattern emerges. Our societal systems play a profound role in shaping not just our stress levels but the very ways we understand, experience, and address mental health. These systems—rooted in capitalism, individualism, and consumerism—create environments that are not conducive to emotional well-being and then commodify solutions to the problems they’ve helped create.
A Society That Profits from Suffering
Industries prey on human struggles and market themselves as the solution. While each industry offers its own elixir for emotional success, they share and promote the same consumerist exploitation of human suffering. Your problem is not that you’ve been mistaught how to understand and engage with your difficulties such as aging, trauma, sadness, anxiety, stress, and grief, but the fact that you experience suffering at all.
In this framework, suffering becomes pathologized, and consumption is sold as the cure. Targeted consumption is framed as the solution to emotional pain, and failing to engage in that consumption becomes a new form of inadequacy or injustice. Take the wellness industry—products like anxiety-reducing teas, expensive retreats, or self-help books are marketed as solutions. These products often promise quick fixes without addressing the deeper, systemic causes of mental distress. In doing so, they leave individuals feeling inadequate when they realize that consuming these products does not resolve the underlying causes of their pain.
Capitalism and Its Psychological Impact
Capitalism operates on principles of private ownership, wage labour, and the pursuit of profit. While these structures have driven technological advancements and economic growth, they come at a significant human cost. The perpetual pressure to achieve, produce, and consume is not just exhausting—it’s fundamentally altering how we perceive ourselves and others. It creates a culture of scarcity and competition, where self-worth is often tied to output and material success (cue the burnout). For many, this creates an environment of chronic anxiety and self-doubt, making it nearly impossible to feel “enough.”
The effects of capitalism on mental health are pervasive. Psychological factors such as uncertainty, conflict, lack of control, and insufficient information are widely recognized as triggers for emotional distress. These factors are not incidental; they are embedded into the capitalist system. The volatile job market, fluctuating economy, and societal glorification of ‘hustle culture’ keep individuals in a state of heightened stress. Always striving but never arriving. This chronic state of alertness takes a toll on both the body and mind, often manifesting as anxiety, depression, or burnout.
While capitalism drives a culture of scarcity, technology intensifies it. Modern devices, designed to connect us, often have the opposite effect by blending work and life in ways that erode boundaries.
Technology and the Erosion of Boundaries
Modern technology, though designed to connect and empower, has further blurred the lines between work and personal life. Our phones, email, and social media create an environment where individuals are expected to be available 24/7. This constant connectivity amplifies social and professional pressures, making it difficult to find moments of rest or disconnection. For many, the distinction between stepping away and being constantly involved no longer exists.
Social media, in particular, feeds into a culture of comparison and performance. The constant scroll through curated posts leads many of us to believe we’re failing to meet society’s expectations. Which leaves us feeling more disconnected than ever before. Rather than bringing us together, social media amplifies loneliness, as we measure our lives against an unattainable standard. We are constantly inundated with filtered glimpses of others’ lives, which create feelings of inadequacy and discontent. This digital age, while providing tools for connection and information, exacerbates feelings of isolation and self-doubt. The pursuit of “having it all” becomes a relentless cycle of striving for validation, often at the expense of genuine well-being.
Think about your own social media use: How often do you find yourself scrolling through perfectly curated posts and feeling like you fall short? This constant comparison—whether it’s about success, happiness, or appearance—only fuels feelings of inadequacy, making it harder to connect with the reality of our own experiences.
Education and Societal Systems
The education system plays a pivotal role in shaping how individuals interact with societal systems. In an educational system where grades define success, students learn early on that their worth is tied to performance rather than well-being. This constant pressure creates a foundation of anxiety that many carry with them into adulthood. Where perfectionism and the fear of failure continue to shape their lives.
While education should be a space for curiosity and growth, it often becomes a breeding ground for stress and anxiety. For marginalized communities, these pressures are compounded by systemic inequities, such as underfunded schools and limited access to resources. The mental health of students becomes collateral damage in a system more focused on measurable outcomes than holistic development.
Systemic Barriers and Marginalized Communities
Beyond education, systemic barriers such as rising living costs, inaccessible healthcare, and widening economic disparities further compound mental health struggles. For many, simply surviving within these constraints is a daily battle. The strain of financial instability, housing insecurity, and lack of access to basic needs creates an environment of constant stress.
Marginalized communities face additional layers of systemic discrimination and injustice, which contribute to chronic stress and trauma. Racism, sexism, ableism, and other forms of oppression are not just external forces; they infiltrate how individuals see themselves and their place in society. The mental health toll of navigating these inequities is profound. Often leading to higher rates of anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions within these communities.
Existential Crises and the Breakdown of Community
On a macro scale, existential challenges such as climate change and the erosion of community bonds contribute to a pervasive sense of anxiety and helplessness. The uncertainty of the future, coupled with the disconnection from communal support systems, leaves many feeling isolated in their struggles. Traditional community structures that once provided a sense of belonging and mutual aid have been eroded by individualism and the fast-paced demands of modern life.
The breakdown of these bonds further amplifies feelings of loneliness and alienation. Without a sense of collective support, individuals are left to navigate systemic challenges on their own. Often left feeling overwhelmed and powerless to enact meaningful change.
Addressing the Impact of Societal Systems
When we take a step back, it becomes clear that mental health struggles are not merely personal failings or individual deficiencies. They are symptoms of systemic dysfunction. The societal emphasis on productivity, individualism, and profit over people creates an environment where mental health is continually compromised.
Addressing these issues requires a shift in perspective. Instead of framing mental health as a purely individual issue, we must acknowledge its systemic roots. This involves advocating for structural changes that prioritize equity, sustainability, and collective well-being. Policies that address income inequality, provide accessible healthcare, support affordable housing, and create community connections are critical steps toward alleviating the mental health crisis.
Moving Forward: Challenging Societal Systems for Collective Mental Health
The impact of societal systems on mental health is profound and far-reaching. By recognizing the systemic nature of these challenges, we can begin to dismantle the structures that perpetuate harm. This isn’t just about individual coping strategies. It’s about creating a society where well-being is a shared value and a collective responsibility.
To shift the narrative, we must take action. Start by educating yourself about the structural frameworks that are shaping our mental health. Advocate for policies that prioritize well-being over profit. And join community efforts that fight for equity. The systems that shape our lives don’t have to control our mental health. Together, we can build a society where well-being is not a luxury, but a fundamental right for all. It starts with you, me, and everyone questioning and dismantling the systems that perpetuate harm.
If you’re interested in learning more about the effects of societal systems on mental health I encourage you to read:
Sedated: How Modern Capitalism Created Our Mental Health Crisis by James Davies
Mad World: The Politics of Mental Health by Micha Frazer-Carroll