ABSTRACT
The field of mental health and well-being is a vast and complicated one. It has a long history, reflecting competing perspectives. The dissenting voices come from different theoretical traditions, and so there has been no unifying voice, and with that, little emphasis on the practice implications. Existentialism, as a broad philosophical approach with an emphasis on what it means to be human offers a helpful way of bringing ideas together in ways that give useful guidance for making a difference at a practical level to “severe existential challenges.” Despite the common tendency for people who challenge the medical model to be told that they do not appreciate the reality of mental health problems, has brought the painful and excruciating reality home to very powerfully. Mental health problems can be extremely challenging for all concerned, and so we need to make sure that we are as well placed as possible to make a positive difference.
