ABSTRACT
This chapter draws on Michel Foucault work and that of other post-structuralist thinkers and the contribution they make to the understanding of mental health problems. Structuralism was at one time a dominant theoretical framework in social theory, emphasizing that it is helpful to understand social issues by reference to underlying structures. Post-structuralism was largely a reaction against this type of thinking, arguing that it was an oversimplification, in so far as meanings are much more fluid that a structuralist approach would lead us to believe. Although Foucault’s work stands out as exemplary when it comes to challenging the dominant medical discourse from a post-structuralist perspective, his is not the only voice to be heard on this subject. Post-structuralism is a complex philosophy and much of its literature base is written in a style that makes comprehension difficult.
