It's Not Just In Your Head

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Harriet proposes in this episode that for Americans to have good mental health, we have to decommodify all parts of the economy related to human need so that people don't feel depressed or anxious about things which all humans need and deserve. These aspects of the economy are primarily related to food, water, air, and housing. Currently, nutritious, organic and quality food is too inaccessible and expensive for millions of Americans. Privatized bottled water competes with public water so that when disasters like Flynt, Michigan occur, those who can afford bottled water for drinking and washing themselves, and those who can't may die. Air may not appear to be commodified, but areas where air is polluted (near fossil fuel extraction sites, for example) is cheaper to live near. The unequal distribution of access of food, water, and air across the U.S. shows patterns of inequality that sustain themselves as long as these aspects of commodified needs remain commodified (reinforcing our heavily racialized class divide in the U.S.).  

Both therapists explore what decommodification of housing might look like. Max describes what authors of "In Defense Of Housing" call the hyper-commodification of housing since the Reagan Era, wherein random capitalists from all over the world can make financial decisions that can mass-evict tenants within cities because their housing is an "under performing asset." Max also tries to figure out if he and Harriet are advocating for social democracy (strong capitalist economy with heavy taxes to pay for social programs) or more traditional socialism (getting rid of the capitalist economy altogether).   --  

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Books referenced: In Defense Of Housing by Peter Marcuse and David Madden Capital City by Sam Stein

Trailer for Ep24: Decommodify All Parts Of The Economy Related To Human Need

Harriet and Max interview two therapists who also act as "shop stewards" with the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW) - Jackie Schalit LMFT and Elizabeth White LCSW. Both talk about what got them involved in union organizing within the mental health field, and why the labor movement still matters more today than ever. Why was there a "civil war" within Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and why did it lead to the formation of NUHW? Why should mental health workers unionize? How can unions improve the lives of everyday people? Listen to this episode to find out!

Teaser for the full episode where we talk to two NUHW members - union therapists fighting for better client care and workers rights.

"We are a cooperatively-run mental health practice located in Bushwick, Brooklyn" - from the Alliance Psychological Services website which also reads "Seeking Licensed Clinical Social Worker to Join Radical Psychotherapy Practice." Meet worker-owners Juliet, Kara, and Billy - who run this cooperative. What makes a worker cooperative different from regular business enterprises? Are co-ops inherently "revolutionary"? How do they make money? Why is the mental health field mostly disconnected and uninformed about workplace democracy and worker-owners? Why are therapists and social workers often considered professionals and not workers?  If you're an LCSW in NYC wanting to join Alliance: http://www.alliancepsych.nyc/joinus Learn more about Alliance here: http://www.alliancepsych.nyc If you're a mental health therapist or social worker wanting to start a worker cooperative, or have other questions/comments for them, email them at [email protected] Learn more about worker cooperatives here: https://institute.coop/what-worker-cooperative

Sneak peek of our conversation with members of one of the only existing mental health provider worker cooperatives in existence -- Alliance Psychological Services, from Bushwick, Brooklyn New York. If you're a therapist or social worker interested in joining their team, go to http://www.alliancepsych.nyc/joinus or email [email protected]. Full episode to be released later this week! Get immediate access to the full episode by joining at patreon.com/itsnotjustinyourhead.

We try to answer Patron questions as often as we can. In this recording, we answer Jake's question about how to avoid harming relationships with your politics (a summary of his question).

Will a Joe Biden presidency be better for our collective mental health? Harriet thinks having a neoliberal president is better than a fascist president, Max mostly agrees. Both therapists encourage listeners to stay (or to get) active, because Biden likely won't unilaterally do much to improve healthcare, education, housing, workers rights, fight climate change (etc) without being pushed "from the bottom." Max and Harriet question whether Biden will follow through on any single campaign promise or platform bullet point from his website, with some attention to mental health policy concerning veterans, the opioid crisis, and suicide. Email us at [email protected]. Support us at patreon.com/itsnotjustinyourhead.

For the full clip of Harriet pretending to be Sigmund Freud, become a patron at patreon.com/itsnotjustinyourhead.